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ADULT SABBATH SCHOOL BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

ECCLESIASTES

SEVENTH-DAY

ADVENTIST CHURCH

ADULT

SABBATH SCHOOL

BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

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*EAQ070101*

Where legally possible, offerings will go to these projects; otherwise special arrangement will be made with the

General Conference for distribution of funds based on the laws of the countries where these offerings are collected.

Unions Churches Members Population

Austrian 48 3,716 8,151,000

Bulgarian 114 7,739 7,741,000

Czecho-Slovakian 184 9,677 15,594,000

Franco-Belgian 136 12,780 71,690,000

Italian 100 7,237 59,178,000

North German 357 20,730 47,844,200

Portuguese 94 8,683 10,576,000

Romanian 1,069 70,531 21,612,000

South German 216 15,285 34,645,800

Spanish 88 11,742 43,587,000

Swiss 51 4,287 7,481,000

Trans-Mediterranean Ter. 7 209 252,019,000

Totals as of J

une 30, 2005

2,464 172,616 580,119,000

Mission Projects

● Evangelistic outreach in Geneva, Switzerland.

● Outreach to Istanbul, Turkey.

● Media Center in Darmstadt, Germany.

For more information, visit www.adventistmission.org

●

Ecclesiastes

●

* Map not drawn to scale

Contents

Editorial Assistant

Larie S. Gray

Pacific Press

Coordinator

Paul A. Hey

Art Director and Illustrator

Lars Justinen

Concept Design

Dever Design

Editorial Office 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904

Principal Contributor

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Editor

Clifford R. Goldstein

Associate Editor

Lyndelle Brower Chiomenti

Publication Manager

Soraya Homayouni Parish

The Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide is prepared by the Office of the Adult

Bible Study Guide of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The

preparation of the guides is under the general direction of a worldwide Sabbath

School Manuscript Evaluation Committee, whose members serve as consulting

editors. The published guide reflects the input of the committee and thus does not

solely or necessar

ily represent the intent of the author(s).

1 The Rise and Fall of the House of Solomon

—December 30–January 5———––——–––————————–——6

2 Nothing New Under the Sun—January 6-12––––———––———–14

3 “All That My Eyes Desired”—January 13-19——–———————22

4 Of Being and Time—January 20-26————–——–––—————–30

5 More Life Under the Sun—January 27–February 2––––—–——–38

6 Rich Man, Poor Man—February 3-9———–————————–—46

7 Striving After the Wind—February 10-16—–––—–———–—––––56

8 God Made Man Upright? What Happened?—February 17-23––64

9 Seeing Through a Glass Darkly—February 24–March 2—–———72

10 “Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do”—March 3-9————–———80

11 Dead Flies and Snake Charmers: More Life Under the Sun

—March 10-16——–––———–––——————––—————–––—88

12 The Way of the Wind—March 17-23—————––———––———96

13 The Conclusion of the Matter—March 24-30————————–104

Unlike other books in Scripture, which

often begin with a strong affirmation about

God (“The Word of the Lord to . . .”),

Ecclesiastes commences with a cry about

the meaninglessness of life. “Vanity of

vanities . . . all is vanity.” This opening

sounds more like modern secular writers

than a prophet of Yahweh. Nevertheless, as Seventh-day Adventist

Christians, we believe that Ecclesiastes was placed in the canon of

Scripture because God has in it a message for us.

Nothing, though, about this book, its message, or even its origin,

has avoided controversy. For instance, many scholars claim that the

author—whoever it was—wasn’t King Solomon. Of course, these are

often the same scholars who claim that Daniel was written in the sec-

ond century

B.C. or that Moses never wrote Genesis, so we can dismiss

them out of hand. We are, instead, proceeding on the assumption that

Solomon was the writer, an assumption based on Christian and Jewish

tradition, on internal evidence inside the book that points to Solomon

as the author, as well as on Ellen White’s statements that “the book of

Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon in his old age, after he had fully

proved that all the pleasures earth is able to give are empty and unsat-

isfying. He there shows how impossible it is for the vanities of the

world to meet the longings of the soul. His conclusion is that it is wis-

dom to enjoy with gratitude the good gifts of God, and to do right;

for all our works will be brought into judgment.”—Ellen G. White

Comments,

The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1164.

Yet, anyone who has ever studied Ecclesiastes knows its challenges.

Some texts are obscure, their meanings difficult to discern; sometimes,

though, the greatest challenge comes from not when we don’t know

what the texts mean but when we do. Thus, a few simple points of

interpretation will greatly help us as we undertake this study.

To begin, Solomon was writing at the end of his life, a life full of bit-

Ecclesiastes:

The

Solomon shows us

that earthly vanities

fail to satisfy the

longing soul.

terness and anger at himself and his apostasy. What’s unique about the

book is that in some places Solomon is writing from the perspective

of someone alienated from God. Like modern authors, he’s giving us

thoughts that flow directly from his head. We see the world as it

appears through his eyes.

In such places it is well to heed the words of

The SDA Bible

Commentary:

“Those portions of Ecclesiastes that relate the experi-

ence and reasoning of [Solomon’s] years of apostasy are not to be

taken as representing the mind and will of the Spirit. Nevertheless,

they are an inspired record of what he actually thought and did during

that time (see

Prophets and Kings, p. 79), and that record constitutes a

sober warning against the wrong kind of thought and action. . . .

Passages such as these should not be wrested from their context and

made to teach some supposed truth that Inspiration never intended

them to teach.”—

The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1060.

How do we know, though, which are those passages? This question

leads to the second important principle for studying Ecclesiastes: We

must read it in the context of the whole Scripture. What is Scripture’s

basic message about life, death, and our purpose in life? When a text

of Ecclesiastes seems to conflict with the grand themes of the Bible,

we can be sure it’s Solomon reflecting on life from the perspective of

alienation and separation from the Lord. These texts, of course,

shouldn’t be used as the basis of theology; they should be used,

instead, as practical warnings about what happens when we lose sight

of God, our Creator and Redeemer.

In the end, that’s what this book is really about: It’s God showing us

how cynical, bitter, and empty life is apart from the knowledge of

Him. It’s our hope that we can learn this lesson from our study of

Ecclesiastes, in contrast to how its author, Solomon, had to learn it—

the hard way.

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I wa

lk through the marketplace in a major city in the Middle East. But it’s

not the wares that I scan. It’s the people. They pray, they give to the poor,

but do they know God? Really know Him? Do they know Issa—Jesus? Will

they know Him when He comes? Will they cry for the mountains to cover

them when He appears? Or will they look up and say, “This is our God”?

I want to stop them, ask them, tell them about Jesus, who loves them, who

died for them. But they don’t see me as they pass, their eyes on the goods

in the marketplace, not on the eternal treasure.

But we can tell them. The Church is working in this country, and our

Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will provide funds to open an outreach center

where we can invite them to come and see, to learn who Jesus is. I want

to tell them, but they don’t hear my voice. So I’ll help their countrymen tell

them. For me, it’s personal.

L ESSON

*December 30–January 5

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week’

s Study:

2 Chron. 6:1-48, 2 Chron.

7:1-4, 1 Kings 3:16-28, 11:1-43.

Memory Text:

“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him

shall be much required” (Luke 12:48).

ichard Cory” is a poem about a rich man told from the perspec-

tive of a poor man—a poor man jealous of Richard Cory, of his

money, of his looks, of everything Richard had that made others

“wish that we were in his place.” The poem ends, though, when Richard

Cory one fine night “went home and put a bullet through his head.”

Solomon, unlike Richard Cory, didn’t kill himself, at least not physi-

cally. But spiritually, that’s another matter. Solomon had all that the

world could offer; even more so, he had the best that heaven could

offer, as well: “And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his

kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him

exceedingly”

(2 Chron. 1:1).

What happened? How could someone walking so close to God, and

lavished with gifts from heaven and earth, end up so bitter, so cynical,

and tortured?

It’s easy, really. No matter who we are, what we have, or even how

close to God we walk, in the end we are fallen creatures with natures

so rotten that unless w

e dail

y surrender ourselves to God

(Luke 9:23),

we are in danger of allowing those natures to ruin us.

This week, before w

e study Ecclesiastes itself, w

e’ll look at the

Sitz

im Leben,

“the life situation,” of Solomon, which will help us under-

stand why, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he wrote the book as

he did.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 6.

The Rise and Fall of the

House of Solomon

SUNDAY

December 31

The Wisdom of Solomon

Look

up the following texts. What do they tell us about the nature and

character of Solomon, at least in his earlier years?

1 Kings 3:28

____________________________________________________________________

1 Kings 4:29-34

____________________________________________________________________

1 Kings 10:23

____________________________________________________________________

Matt. 12:42

____________________________________________________________________

Solomon, clearly, was a man of extraordinary intelligence and wis-

dom. Of course, intelligence and wisdom are not the same thing.

Some of the world’s most devilish people were very intelligent. What

they lacked was “wisdom,” the right kind, anyway.

According to the Bible there are at least two kinds of wisdom: the

wisdom of the world

(1 Cor. 3:19) and the wisdom that comes from

God (Job 28:28, Ps. 111:10).

What

do you think is the difference between these two kinds of wis-

dom?

Solomon was clearly a person who, whatever worldly wisdom he

possessed, had the wisdom that came from God: “And God gave

Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness

of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore” (1 Kings 4:29).

If, however, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” then

all wisdom and knowledge that arise after that “fear” must be based

on the recognition of the reality, the power, and the goodness of God.

God is the starting point of all true wisdom. Any truths not based on

that foundation might be knowledge but not wisdom. How unfortu-

nate that so many intelligent, educated, and knowledgeable people

know nothing of this wisdom.

He was an educated, intelligent professional, regarded as bril-

liant. And yet, when told he was a sinner, he responded, “What

sin? I’m not a sinner.” How is this an example of knowledge

without wisdom? What other examples can you think of, and

what do they teach you about the difference between worldly

knowledge and heavenly wisdom?

_____________________________________________________

MONDAY

January 1

Solomon’s Walk With the Lord

Whatever native intelligence Solomon possessed, that wasn’t

enough to give him the kind of wisdom he showed in those early years

of his reign.

Read

1 Kings 3:16-28. What does that story tell us about what “the

wisdom from God” includes?

____________________________________________________________________

Solomon’s wisdom, His ability to judge rightly, came to him from

God; it was a gift from above. But this didn’t happen in a vacuum.

Solomon walked with the Lord; he had a relationship with God, one

in which his heart was surrendered to the Lord in faith and obedience.

Only through such submission could the Lord give him the wisdom he

needed to judge rightly in the land of Israel.

Read

1 Kings 3:3-14. What elements do you find in Solomon’s words

that show what His attitude toward God was?

____________________________________________________________________

In this encounter we can see what in many ways was the crucial ele-

ment in Solomon’s great success. Verse 9 says it all: Not only did he

ask for the right thing (wisdom to be a good king); his whole attitude

in asking showed that this young man, with all the world at his fin-

gertips, understood his need of God. Solomon, the king of Israel,

came before the Lord as a humble suppliant. There is no trace of self-

sufficiency here. He saw his need of a greater power. As long as he

had that attitude, there’s no doubt that the Lord could work mighty

things through him.

There’s another element, too, that mustn’t be missed. Read again

Solomon’s interaction with the Lord here. Obviously his words

showed where his heart was. But words aren’t enough. How else is

Solomon to show the reality of a faith relationship with God? The

answer, of course, is in v

erse 14: “If thou wilt walk in my ways . . .”

Here’s a great example of the closeness between faith and works. God

can work through Solomon, and reward his faith, only as long as

Solomon reveals that faith through obedience.

How well do your works reflect your faith? What do your works

say about your faith? What changes do you need to make?

TUESDAY

January 2

Solomon in God’s Temple

Perhaps, of all the privileges given Solomon, none was greater than

to build the temple in Jerusalem, the chosen city (2 Chron. 6:6) of the

Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the earth (Rev. 10:6). However

much David, Solomon’s father, had wanted the job himself, it was left

to Solomon to fulfill the task.

Read

over Solomon’s prayer of dedication in 2 Chronicles 6. What

elements stand out in your mind as you read Solomon’s words?

What principles can you find from this prayer that can be applied

in our experience with God today, both on a personal and a cor-

porate level?

____________________________________________________________________

So many powerful truths come from these words. Notice, for

instance, verse 18, Solomon’s acknowledgment of the grandness and

greatness of the God who created a universe whose size the king could

barely comprehend.

Notice, too, all the way through the prayer, Solomon’s realization

that his people needed to remain obedient to God. None of the special

covenant blessings given to Israel were unconditional.

Perhaps the most important point in this whole prayer is the prom-

ise of forgiveness. If Israel sinned, and were punished for those sins,

God would hear from heaven, from His “dwelling place,” “and for-

give.” Notice, though, how that forgiveness always was linked to their

confession and repentance.

Read

verse 36, focusing on the phrase “for there is no man which sin-

neth not.” How do you understand this verse in the context of the

gospel? What point was Solomon making?

What we see here in Solomon’s prayer is a recognition of human

weakness contrasted to the loving forgiveness of God. Second

Chronicles 7:1-3 sho

ws that God accepted Solomon’s sacrifices,

which were offered with his prayers.

If there is no person who “sinneth not,” why is it so important

for each of us to understand Christ’s death in our own behalf?

Why must our hope of eter

nal life r

est onl

y with J

esus?

WEDNESDAY

January 3

The Fall of Solomon

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he

fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).

However much he was favored of the Lord, however many blessings

Solomon had, he started to lose his way. Ellen White makes it clear:

“So gradual was Solomon’s apostasy that before he was aware of it, he

had wandered far from God. Almost imperceptibly he began to trust

less and less in divine guidance and blessing, and to put confidence in

his own strength. Little by little he withheld from God that unswerv-

ing obedience which was to make Israel a peculiar people, and he con-

formed more and more closely to the customs of the surrounding

nations. Yielding to the temptations incident to his success and his

honored position, he forgot the Source of his prosperity.”—Ellen G.

White,

Prophets and Kings, p. 55.

What

element in particular does the Bible point to as the source of

Solomon’s moral and spiritual decline?

See 1 Kings 11:1-4. What

command were his actions specifically in violation of? See Deut.

17:17.

However wrong he was in taking numerous wives, especially foreign

ones who didn’t know the Lord, the problem wasn’t so much that, in and

of itself; it was where these marriages would lead him. The women, who

were probably closer to him than anyone else in the nation, eventually

led him away from the Lord. Notice that 1 Kings 11:4 says that when

Solomon was “old,” his wives turned his heart away. In other words, as

Ellen White wrote above, his apostasy didn’t happen all at once. It

began with an infraction that, in and of itself, didn’t seem to be so bad.

That “small” step, however, ended up as a grand leap into apostasy.

What

did this apostasy on his part lead him into doing? 1 Kings 11:4-9.

____________________________________________________________________

Utterly amazing! From being specifically chosen of the Lord to

worshiping and ser

ving pag

an gods? If it could happen to him, it could

happen to anyone.

Are there some “strange women” in your life? Be brutally hon-

est with your

self

And if the ans

er is yes, how do you get rid of

them?

THURSDAY

January 4

Solomon’s Last Days

The Lord, of course, didn’t sit by and do nothing while Solomon fell

into apostasy. No doubt the God who is “not willing that any should

perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9) worked on

the heart of His once-faithful servant.

What

did the Lord say to Solomon regarding Solomon’s actions?

How, also, do we see in these verses the principle that our actions,

for good or ill, impact others? Where, also, do we see God’s mercy

toward Solomon here? See 1 Kings 11:11-13.

____________________________________________________________________

What

trials did the Lord bring on Solomon as a result of his sinful

actions? 1 Kings 11:14-43.

____________________________________________________________________

Though Scripture itself doesn’t say it, Ellen White makes it clear

that, in the end, Solomon—no matter how hardened—eventually saw

the folly of his ways and repented. Having learned much from this ter-

rible experience, in his later years “the king recorded for after gener-

ations the history of his wasted years with their lessons of warning.”

—Ellen G. White,

Prophets and Kings, p. 79. These words, at least

part of them, are what we know today as the book of Ecclesiastes.

Read

Ecclesiastes 1:1, 16 and 2:4-10. How do these verses help us

identify its writer as Solomon?

____________________________________________________________________

Numerous lessons can be learned from the sad story of Solomon.

First, no matter how exalted we are, none of us are immune from the

follies of sin and apostasy. Second, Solomon’s fall brought suffering

not just upon himself but upon others, as well, a common principle

that many of us know all too well. Finally, as we study the book of

Ecclesiastes, we can see the bitterness and suffering that Solomon

faced because of his wrong choices.

No matter ho

w far Solomon’

s fall, God didn’t give up on him.

What good news do you find in that for yourself, you who have

surely stumbled and fallen, as well?

FRIDAY

January 5

Further Study:

Read Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings,

pp. 25–46, for the story of Solomon. See also The SDA Bible

Commentary, vol. 3, introduction to Ecclesiastes.

“For many years Solomon’s life was marked with devotion to God,

with uprightness and firm principle, and with strict obedience to God’s

commands. He directed in every important enterprise and managed

wisely the business matters connected with the kingdom. His wealth

and wisdom, the magnificent buildings and public works that he con-

structed during the early years of his reign, the energy, piety, justice,

and magnanimity that he revealed in word and deed, won the loyalty of

his subjects and the admiration and homage of the rulers of many

lands.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 32.

“But Solomon had begun to lose sight of the Source of his power

and glory. As inclination gained the ascendancy over reason, self-

confidence increased, and he sought to carry out the Lord’s purpose in

his own way. He reasoned that political and commercial alliances with

the surrounding nations would bring these nations to a knowledge of

the true God; and he entered into unholy alliance with nation after

nation. Often these alliances were sealed by marriages with heathen

princesses. The commands of Jehovah were set aside for the customs

of surrounding peoples.”—Page 54.

Discussion Questions:

● As a class, talk about other great leaders who made horrible

mistakes that shouldn’t have been made. What parallels can you

see between them and Solomon? What lessons can you learn for

yourselves from these mistakes?

● Though we are not all Solomons, in what subtle ways do we

face the same danger of slowly losing our dependency upon God?

Also, what are our responsibilities to someone who is starting to

fall away? How do we help without appearing judgmental?

● Do you, as a class, know someone who has fallen away from

the Lord? What can you, as a class, do to try to bring this person

back to the Lord? What are the first steps you could take to show

this person that God still loves him or her? Perhaps the first

thing you could do is invite that person to some social gathering

outside a chur

ch setting

tor

INSIDE

The Chain of Truth

by KAMALANATHAN KATHIRAMAN

My wife and I live in Sri Lanka. One day she returned from visiting

friends to say that an Adventist pastor had come to study the Bible with

her friends. She told me many things she had learned—things I had never

heard before. She urged me to meet this pastor, but I found reasons not to

go.

I had grown up in an idol-worshiping home. But when I was in middle

school, a friend gave me a Bible, and I began reading it. I lost interest in

worshiping my family’s idols and began worshiping God. However, some

things about my friend’s church bothered me—the loud music and people

shouting during worship. But I knew of no other Christian church, so I

attended my friend’s church for years.

When my wife told me about the Adventist pastor, I was interested. But

it took several weeks before I made time to meet him. Finally I agreed to

go with my wife to the pastor’s house one Saturday morning. I did not

know that the pastor held worship services in his home on Saturday. I was

surprised to find other people there ready to study the Bible. But as we

studied, I became eager to know more about God. We decided to stay for

the morning worship service.

What a difference! We sang songs with reverence, and we read the Bible

together. The pastor really knew his Bible. This group truly worshiped God

in spirit and in truth, and I wanted to worship with them.

That afternoon we studied the Bible some more. Time flew as we dug

into God’s Word together. When I asked a question, the pastor answered

with Bible texts. I liked that!

After this, I was sure to be home when the pastor came to study the

Bible. No more excuses. I had found truth, and I wanted it.

Three weeks later we decided to become part of this body of Christ. We

were baptized a few months ago. People notice the changes in our lives

and ask us what has happened. We gladly share our new faith with others,

especially our families, who ask questions about our beliefs.

We invite people to study the Bible with us; but since we are still new

Christians, we ask the pastor to teach them. Already some of my family

members are turning from their idols and studying the Bible to learn about

the living God. God is helping me teach them what I’ve learned.

Your Mission of

ferings helped bring my wife and me to Jesus.

KAMALANATHAN KATHIRAMAN quit his job in forestry to become a literature evangelist. He

lives in northern Sri Lanka.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

L ESSON

*January 6-12

Nothing New Under the

Sun

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week’s Study:

Ecclesiastes 1.

Memory Text:

“That which has been is what will be, that which

is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the

sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9, NKJV).

he story is told of a Greek philosopher named Diogenes who

walked the streets of Athens with a lantern; his goal was to find

an honest man. According to one version of the story, he finally

found someone whom he believed fit his expectations. Diogenes,

however, was mistaken. The fellow stole his lantern, and poor

Diogenes had to find his way home in the dark.

Whether true or not true, this story reveals how easy it is to be cyni-

cal about life, how easy it is to put a negative spin on things.

Of course, in one sense, that’s not hard to understand. The world can

make a person cynical, negative, depressed. Just ask Solomon, at least

the Solomon who appears in the opening chapter of Ecclesiastes. He

looks in nature and sees reason to despair; he seeks wisdom and finds

it depressing; he looks at life as a whole and finds it meaningless. And

for beings who cry out for meaning and purpose in life, we see this as

a hard conclusion to live with. Maybe that’s why, even in industrial-

ized countries with lots of wealth, people are depressed. Why else are

millions and millions of dollars spent on antidepressants? Because

people are happ

Chapter 1 introduces the book. It begins with a look at the futility

and meaninglessness of life lived without the knowledge of God.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 13.

SUNDAY

January 7

Kohelet in Jerusalem

“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in

Jerusalem” (Eccles. 1:1).

The word commonly translated “preacher” here, kohelet, is from the

Hebrew root kahal, which means “to assemble,” “to gather.” In Greek,

kohelet is translated into a word similar to the Greek word for

“church,” ekklesia; from this, of course, we get the name Ecclesiastes.

The Jews just called the author, and the book, Kohelet.

There’s been much debate over the centuries regarding exactly what

the word kohelet means. Is he gathering people in order to expound his

great wisdom? Or is he a gatherer of wisdom, as he himself suggests

(Eccles. 1:13, 16, 17)? We’ll have to wait for heaven in order to know

for sure.

Read

Ecclesiastes 1. Write out a short summary of what Solomon

seems to be saying. Don’t worry about understanding each phrase

(no one does!); rather, focus instead on the general message and

tone. What point is he making, and how do we understand these

words from a Christian perspective? And, as you read, keep in

mind who wrote them, when, and why.

___________________________________________________________________

On the surface these are words of a bitter man, a cynical man, a pes-

simist. All he sees is repetition, fruitlessness, and meaninglessness in life.

Taken in isolation, his words sound like many modern atheistic philoso-

phers, who bemoan the meaninglessness and futility of their existence.

This, of course, can’t be said about Solomon. Instead, remembering that

we need to view this book in light of the whole Bible, we see, instead, the

bitterness and cynicism that come from a life lived apart from God, a

life lived in disobedience, a life lived only with immediate earthly things

in view, as opposed to the greater picture of God and the promise of sal-

vation. Taken in that context, his words fit perfectly with the overall

theme of Scripture, however differently they are presented here.

How much bitterness or cynicism do you see in your own life?

What caused it? Ho

w can these things be pur

ed bef

e they

poison your whole spiritual existence?

MONDAY

January 8

Vanity of Vanities

“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is

vanity” (Eccles. 1:2).

Most translations of this verse use the word vanity. The Hebrew

word, hebel, means literally “vapor” or “breath”; it also carries the

idea of emptiness, meaninglessness, and futility. The word will appear

numerous times in Ecclesiastes.

When

you think of “vapor” or “breath,” what comes to mind? Why

would Solomon use this image to talk about life in general? See

also Ps. 144:4.

Again, think about the perspective that he was writing from: The

years of his life, so full of potential and promise, were squandered on

things that do not last, things of no permanent value. When most of

your whole life is made up of hebel, of vapor, when you get to the end

of that life the whole thing can seem like a vapor because it passed by

very quickly and seemed so full of meaningless things.

Look

up the following verses. How are they expressing, in their own

way, the same idea presented above?

Isa. 52:3

____________________________________________________________________

Matt. 6:19, 20

____________________________________________________________________

Mark 8:36

____________________________________________________________________

James 4:14

____________________________________________________________________

What makes Solomon’s words so powerful is that here was a man

who had everything this world could offer. He, perhaps unlike anyone

else, had his fill of worldly pleasures. As he himself said later, any-

thing that he wanted he got

(Eccles. 2:10). Yet, in the end, he calls it

all meaningless, an empty vapor or breath. What a lesson about what’s

important in life and what isn’t.

Take stock of your life. How much of what you are doing could

be deemed as hebel? What things are you striving for? What

things do you think ar

e impor

tant? If y

ou get what you are

striving for, might you one day deem them as

hebel, as well?

TUESDAY

January 9

The Sun Also Rises

Solomon, in his earlier years, was apparently a keen student of nature,

and from nature he learned many spiritual lessons

(see, for instance,

Prov. 1:17-19; 6:6-9; 17:12; 26:1-3, 11; 31:10). In his later years, as

well, he was still looking at nature; given his frame of mind, however,

we can’t be too certain about the lessons he draws from what he sees.

Read

Ecclesiastes 1:4-11. What point was Solomon making? How

accurate were his conclusions?

___________________________________________________________________

Solomon was doing what’s often termed “natural theology,” the

attempt to discern truth about God, reality, and life from nature itself.

Which is fine. Nature has been deemed God’s “second book” (see, for

instance, Ps. 19:1-7, Isa. 40:26, and Heb. 11:3).

How

does nature speak to us about God? What are the limits of what

it can teach us, especially in a fallen world?

___________________________________________________________________

However powerful the message of this second book, you can put the

most brilliant and wonderful text before someone who can’t read, and

it will mean nothing to that person. Or, regardless of what you put

before them, if they are not open to what it says, if their hearts are set

in another direction, then not only will they not accept what the text

or what nature says but they could draw the wrong conclusions from

them. Solomon here, grousing over his life, looks at nature and draws

a conclusion that’s not necessarily the lesson to be learned. He’s pour-

ing his own negativity and his cynicism into nature itself.

It’s easy to do. One eighteenth-century writer argued that, because

nature—through famines, pestilence, and floods—is so destructive,

“man follows nature’s impulses when he indulges in homicide.” In

other words, because nature kills, so can we. Talk about drawing a

wrong conclusion! But again, this shows how easy it is to read our bad

attitudes into w

hat’

s around us.

How capable are you at looking at things “objectively”? How

often do you let your bad moods or negative attitudes impact

your actions and words? Why is death to self so important in

order to protect our

selves from projecting our wrong attitudes

onto other things?

WEDNESDAY

January 10

Beyond the Cycles

Solomon looked around at nature and saw endless and seemingly

meaningless repetition. The sun rises and sets, the wind blows, the

rivers flow, and it goes on and on for generation after generation. What

was, it will be done again; what will be, it already has been. “There is

nothing new under the sun”

(Eccles. 1:9, NKJV).

His tone, however, suggests that something is wrong in all this and

that things shouldn’t be this way. His attitude comes through clearly in

the first verses of the chapter.

Read

again Ecclesiastes 1:1-4.What is Solomon saying in those open-

ing verses about the transience of humanity in contrast to the end-

less cycles of nature?

The earth goes on and on; we don’t. We are nothing but vapor,

hebel.

These thoughts get to the ultimate dilemma of humanity: We

are beings capable of understanding the idea of eternity, of transcen-

dence, of something greater than ourselves, and yet, we see that it’s

beyond our reach. The sun, the rivers, the wind—all were here before

us and will be here long after we return to the dust. We come and go;

the rivers, the sun, and the wind remain. No wonder life can seem to

be, as Shakespeare wrote, a tale “full of sound and fury, signifying

nothing.”

How

do the following texts answer the dilemma that Solomon touched

on here in the first chapter of Ecclesiastes? 1 Cor. 15:26, 51-55;

Heb. 2:14; Rev. 21:4.

There have been many great thinkers, many great philosophers,

with all sorts of elaborate and logical systems, all designed to

explain the hard questions of life. But unless they can solve the

question of death, they have no answers for the questions of life,

for, in the end, all life is swept up in death.And, as one can guess,

none of these philosophers has answered the problem (most of

them are dead themselves). Only Jesus, by His death and His

resurrection, has. Jesus has shown us that death isn’t the end

and that we, indeed, can one day be alive long after the endless

cycles of life on this fallen planet have ceased to exist or even be

remembered

(Isa. 65:17). If not for that hope, Solomon would be

justified in his pessimism.

THURSDAY

January 11

Wisdom “Under the Sun”

Verses 12-18 in chapter 1 of Ecclesiastes give more insight into the

background of the author. Not only does he reiterate his role as king,

he mentions that he had more wisdom than all before him in Jerusalem,

more evidence pointing to Solomon. This all makes sense, considering

that the reign of Solomon was one of great peace and prosperity. The

king, not worrying about invaders or rebellion or economic collapse,

had time to seek for knowledge and wisdom “under the sun.”

Notice

the phrase used here, “under heaven” (vs. 13), is another way

of expressing the same idea as the phrase “under the sun” (vss. 3,

9, 14), which appears more than twenty times, and only in

Ecclesiastes. What does the phrase mean, and how does it help us

understand what Solomon is saying here?

___________________________________________________________________

Under heaven, under the sun, is another way of talking about what

goes on here, on earth. What we see here is, again, another example

of the futility of all earthly knowledge and wisdom. The world, and all

that’s in it, can’t answer the hard questions of life; indeed, the world

and all that’s in it

cause

many of the hard questions of life. The answer

has to be from something greater than the world, above the world,

something that has “overcome the world” (John 16:33). And that, of

course, is Jesus. Otherwise, as Solomon sees here, the world leaves

one frustrated, angry, cynical. He gains all this wisdom, and for him it

brings only grief and an increase of sorrow.

German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, sounding like Solomon,

wrote, “Everything in life [‘under the sun’] shows that earthly happi-

ness is destined to be frustrated.”

back over Ecclesiastes 1:12-18. What things in particular does

Solomon find so frustrating and vain? Also, how do the words here

fit in with 2 Timothy 3:7?

___________________________________________________________________

Notice Ecclesiastes 1:15: “That which is crooked cannot be made

straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.” What

bent or broken things in your life just can’t be fixed now; what

things do you lack that the w

orld just can’t supply? How do

these things make you long even more for the return of Jesus?

FRIDAY

January 12

Further Study:

Ludwig Wittgenstein once said: “The world of the

happy man is a different one from that of the unhappy man.” Go to

Proverbs to get another view of Solomon in a different period of his

life. What differences in attitude do you see? How does this show why

a proper relationship with God is so important in how we view life as

a whole?

“Solomon was not complaining of the ceaseless cycles of nature,

but saw in them a parallel to the cycles of human life (Eccl. 1:4). Is

man’s life, from generation to generation, a mere matter of repetition,

with no more sublime object in view? Will there not be a climax to the

life of the human race? Does not God have an eternal purpose that will

eventually supersede this seemingly endless repetition of human

activity from generation to generation?

“The scientific accuracy of the description here given of the motion

of air masses about the surface of the earth is unparalleled in ancient

literature and reveals an insight into the laws of nature greatly supe-

rior to that of most men in ancient times.”—

The SDA Bible

Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1064.

“In its human wisdom the world knows not God. Its wise men

gather an imperfect knowledge of God through his created works, and

then in their foolishness exalt nature and the laws of nature above

nature’s God. Nature is an open book which reveals God. All who are

attracted to nature may behold in it the God that created them. But

those who have not a knowledge of God, in their acceptance of the

revelation God has made of Himself in Christ, will obtain only an

imperfect knowledge of God in nature.”—Ellen G. White,

Healthful

Living, p. 293.

Discussion Questions:

● As a class, spend some time in nature together and then dis-

cuss the following questions: What revelation of God do we get in

nature? What can nature tell us about God? What can’t it tell us?

What wrong lessons can we draw from nature? What does all this

tell us about the importance of revelation for a fuller picture of

God?

● Why is it so easy to get cynical about life? Is a certain amount

of cynicism valuable? After all, this is a fallen world destined

to destruction. How do we strike the right balance so that, while

cautious about the world, we don’t sink into the extreme negativ-

ity seen in the f

st chapter of Ecclesiastes?

tor

INSIDE

The Priest Started It!

by HOMER TRECARTIN

We had a delightful visitor at church recently. Joe is a retiree from the

United Kingdom who has lived in Cyprus for the past seven years. Earlier

in the week he had called the Middle East Union to get directions to the

nearest Adventist church. He seemed so excited to know finally where a

church was.

Joe explained that he had been watching 3ABN for several months and

wanted to visit the church. But he could not find a street address for a

church. Armed with the church’s address, he showed up for church.

Over lunch he shared more of his story. He has been a faithful member

of his church for 66 years. But one Sunday last summer his priest

announced that the following week mass would be on Saturday so he

could leave for vacation.

“But Father,” Joe objected, “we can’t do that. The Bible says we are to

keep God’s Sabbath holy.”

The priest smiled and said, “It’s OK, Joe. It won’t hurt at all. In fact, the

Bible says that Saturday is the Sabbath, not Sunday.”

Joe was stunned and upset. He bought a Bible—the first he had ever

held—and started reading it. He searched the channels on his satellite TV

for something that might help, and he found a program that was discussing

the Sabbath! He listened intently and wrote down all the Bible texts they

read. He found answers to other questions, such as what happens when a

person dies.

He realized that his priest was right—Saturday is God’s true Sabbath!

But suddenly Joe did not know what to do. He decided to ask another

priest, but every priest he talked to told him simply to stop reading the

Bible, for it would just confuse him.

But Joe loved God and was learning so much from the Bible that he

could not bear to stop reading it. So, he turned to the television programs

that had brought him the truth.

Joe had just one question: “Why don’t Adventists celebrate

Communion? I’ve heard nothing about that on television.”

I smiled. “We do celebrate Communion. Today is Communion

Sabbath.”

Joe rejoices in his new knowledge of God’s love and enjoys the fellow-

ship he has found with his new family, those who keep the Sabbath

because the Bible says to and not because it will let someone start their

vacation early.

HOMER TRECARTIN was secretary-treasurer of the Middle East Union of Seventh-day

Adventists when he wrote this. He currently lives in Maryland.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

L ESSON

*January 13-19

“All That My Eyes

Desired”

SABBA

AFTERNOON

Read for This Week’s Study:

Prov. 3:13-28, Ecclesi-

astes 2.

Memory Text:

“For what has man for all his labor, and for the

striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?”

(Ecclesiastes 2:22, NKJV).

“I have pursued, alas, philosophy,

Jurisprudence, and medicine,

And, help me God, theology,

With fervent zeal through thick and thin.

And here, poor fool, I stand once more,

No wiser than I was before.”

—Johann Goethe,

Faust (New York: W. W. Norton, 2001), p. 12.

ounds as if Faust didn’t find his pursuit of knowledge any more

satisfying than Solomon did. Even the study of theology, if not

done with a humble and seeking heart, leads nowhere.

And though Solomon, unlike Goethe’s

Faust, didn’t openly sell his

soul to the devil in pursuit of happiness and fulfillment, he might as

well have, considering how far he fell. Fortunately for Solomon, Jesus

stooped even lower, becoming “sin for us” (2 Cor. 5:21) in order that

He could lift even the lowest of us from the degradation of sin.

This week we pick up on more of Solomon’s words regarding this

general frustration with life; that is, a life lived apart from God. If we

heed his words carefully, there will be some valuable lessons for us.

Why make the same mistakes he did?

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 20.

SUNDAY

January 14

Striving After Wind

Chapter 1 ended with Solomon bemoaning all the wisdom and

knowledge he had acquired over the years (Eccles. 1:16-18). For him

it all was meaningless, a striving after wind. How sad that he should

end up with these sentiments when the Bible more than once talked

about how people marveled at the wisdom of his earlier years (1 Kings

10:1-8; see also 1 Kings 4:29-34).

Compare

the attitude of Solomon toward wisdom with the attitude

he displayed earlier, such as in Proverbs 3:13-26. What do you

think made the difference?

___________________________________________________________________

Solomon, old and bitter, had lost his way; hence, all the knowledge

and wisdom he acquired meant little to him. In contrast, the wisdom

he talks about in Proverbs is a wisdom centered on a knowledge of

God, the source of all true wisdom and knowledge. This point is

brought home even more powerfully when Solomon links knowledge

and understanding with God as the Creator

(Prov. 3:19), which proves

again how the foundation of all knowledge and wisdom begins with

Him. Notice, too, that this wisdom isn’t just abstract theological con-

cepts regarding the nature of God or the limits of omnipotence.

Instead, in these verses in Proverbs we can see a practical element.

True wisdom will be reflected in how we live our lives. Solomon, as

he lost his way, lost the true wisdom he once had, and he found,

instead, only the worldly kind, the kind under the sun. Hence, in his

mind it all became vain, meaningless, even a source of pain.

Though

there’s a chapter break, a logical progression of thought flows

from the last verses of chapter 1 to the first few verses of chapter

2. Read Ecclesiastes 1:16–2:3. What is Solomon talking about

now?

___________________________________________________________________

How typical of human beings to go from one worldly pursuit to

another, all in a v

ain attempt to find happiness and fulfillment.

What’s been your own experience in trying to find worldly hap-

piness? Why does it never work? Why can it never work?

MONDAY

January 15

The Pleasure Principle

Solomon, finding wisdom a vain endeavor, goes after pleasure

instead. The constant search for pleasure is called hedonism. Most

people who are pleasure seekers are just looking for a good time.

Some people, however, truly believe that pleasure is the sum of all

good, and whatever is pleasurable is, therefore, also good.

Put

yourself in the mind of someone who does not believe in God.

According to their thinking, if this life is all there is, if there is

nothing beyond it, if there is no moral law that we all are answer-

able to, then why not just kick back and enjoy yourself in any way

you please, even at the expense of others? What answer do you

have for someone like this?

___________________________________________________________________

Compare

what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 2:1-3 with what he

wrote in Proverbs 6:23-29, 7:6-27, 20:1, 23:1-6. How is he, here in

Ecclesiastes, expressing the same sentiments that he wrote out

years earlier?

___________________________________________________________________

There’s something incredibly tricky about seeking pleasure just for

pleasure’s sake. For some reason, when we get it and even enjoy it,

sooner or later it doesn’t satisfy. Sooner or later the pleasure loses

something, or we need more and more of it to reach the same level of

immediate satisfaction. Sooner or later we realize that there’s much

more to life than just pleasure and that pleasure alone leaves us hol-

low, empty, dissatisfied. This is a lesson that Solomon learned for

himself the hard way.

Solomon is a man who, though once warning people about lust,

ended up with “seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hun-

dred concubines” (1 Kings 11:3); a guy who, though warning

against gluttony, eventually would feast like a pig (1 Kings 4:22,

23). How easy it is to fall! What lessons can you take away from

this fall that should serve as a warning to you?

TUESDAY

January 16

“All That My Eyes Desired”

One of the most famous, and successful, businessmen in American

history was Lee Iacocca, who ran the giant Chrysler Corporation for

many years. Toward the end of his life, he once said, “Here I am in the

twilight years of my life, still wondering what it’s all about. . . . I can

tell you this, fame and fortune is for the birds.”

Read

Ecclesiastes 2:4-11. What’s the basic point of his message here?

___________________________________________________________________

Solomon gained a certain satisfaction from his material prosperity

(Eccles. 2:10) but, in the end, the satisfaction did not last, did not ful-

fill the most basic longings of his soul (vs. 11). If material possessions

could bring happiness, Solomon should have been the happiest person

in the world. As you read Ecclesiastes, you can see that these are not

the words of a happy man.

Read

again Ecclesiastes 2:4-11. What things did Solomon acquire?

See also 1 Kings 7 and 1 Kings 10:10-29.

___________________________________________________________________

Why,

though, with so much, was he still not happy?

___________________________________________________________________

All that Solomon had were physical things; all his physical desires

were satiated. Yet, as human beings, we are more than the sum of our

organs and flesh. There’s a spiritual, moral component to us that all the

physical things in the world cannot satisfy. Solomon was proof of that.

It’s interesting, too, that even in the so-called “developed” world, in

which people have wealth and material prosperity, the levels of unhap-

piness and dissatisfaction with life are sometimes even higher than

nations in which the people have less.

Read Matthe

w 6:33.

w could this gr

eat truth ha

e solved

Solomon’s problem? What does the text say to you amid your

own temptations?

WEDNESDAY

January 17

The Fate of a Fool

“Then I thought in my heart, ‘The fate of the fool will overtake

me also. What then do I gain by being wise?’ I said in my heart,

‘This too is meaningless’ ” (Eccles. 2:15, NIV).

Solomon is having a hard time. All his wisdom, he believed, did him

no good. He then sought after pleasure and mirth and found it empty.

And then, even being perhaps the richest man in all antiquity didn’t

satisfy the innermost needs of his soul. He found it all “vanity and

striving after wind” (vs. 11, NASB).

As if all these weren’t bad enough, it gets worse.

Read

Ecclesiastes 2:12-17. What is he complaining about now? How

valid are his complaints? How can you, as a Christian, answer

him?

___________________________________________________________________

Jesus said something that in a close way relates to what Solomon is

saying here. Talking about the Father, Jesus said, “He maketh his sun

to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on

the unjust”

(Matt. 5:45). In another place, after talking about some

Galileans whose “blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices”

(Luke 13:1), Jesus then said: “ ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans

were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered

such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise

perish’ ”

(Luke 13:2, 3, NKJV; see also verses 4, 5). In both these

places Jesus is talking about what seems obvious to all of us: that pain

and suffering aren’t just the lot of the wicked. The good suffer as well.

The difference is that Solomon, seeing this fact, believes that everything

we do is useless because we all, the fool and the wise, wind up dead.

Jesus, though, comes to a different conclusion: “ ‘Unless you repent you

will all likewise perish’ ”

(NKJV). Jesus was pointing them to some-

thing beyond the immediate fate of either the wicked or the just.

How does your faith in God help you deal with the nondis-

criminatory reach of death? What Bible promises offer you the

greatest hope in the context of the inevitability of the grave?

THURSDAY

January 18

Legacy

Solomon doesn’t know when to give up. It’s bad enough that all his

worldly pursuits came to nothing; it’s bad enough that everyone, the

wise and the fool, dies; but now he’s complaining about what happens

even

after he dies.

Read

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26. What’s his complaint here?

___________________________________________________________________

Solomon does have a good point. People are concerned about their

legacy, whatever it is. How depressing to think that you work so hard

all your life to build up something, only to have someone come after

and bring it all to nothing. In one sense, too, his concern is kind of

ironic: After all, considering the life that Solomon lived after he

assumed the throne, one might wonder what his father David would

have thought about what Solomon did with what David had left him.

On the other hand, perhaps it was that very thought that got him think-

ing about what his heirs would do with their inheritance.

Read

verses 24-26. What is Solomon saying now?

___________________________________________________________________

Though the texts themselves are difficult, Solomon seems to be say-

ing now,

Well, since there’s nothing I can do about what my heirs do,

I might as well live life well now. He’s not advocating licentiousness,

however (he’s been there and done that already); instead, he seems to

be following the Bible idea that life, lived in harmony with God’s will,

can bring many earthly blessings that include physical enjoyment: “He

causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service

of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine that

makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread

which strengthens man’

s heart”

(Ps. 104:14, 15, NKJV).

You’re an heir (Rom. 8:17, Gal. 3:29, 4:7), r

ecei

ving fr

om your

heavenly Father the greatest gift possible, salvation in Jesus

Christ

(Heb. 9:28, 1 Pet. 1:5). What kind of daily choices are you

making to help ensur

e that y

ou don’t squander this “legacy” left

to you by God through the death of Jesus in your stead?

FRIDAY

January 19

Further Study:

Ellen G. White, Fundamentals of Christian

Education, p. 422; The Ministry of Healing, p. 364; Testimonies for

the Church,

vol. 5, p. 258.

“He [Solomon] gives us the history of his search for happiness. He

engaged in intellectual pursuits; he gratified his love for pleasure; he

carried out his schemes of commercial enterprise. He was surrounded

by the fascinating splendor of court life. . . .

“Solomon sat upon a throne of ivory, the steps of which were of

solid gold, flanked by six golden lions. His eyes rested upon highly

cultivated and beautiful gardens just before him. These grounds were

visions of loveliness. . . . Birds of every variety of brilliant plumage

flitted from tree to tree, making the air vocal with sweet songs.

Youthful attendants, gorgeously dressed and decorated, waited to obey

his slightest wish. Scenes of revelry, music, sports, and games were

arranged for his diversion at an extravagant expenditure of money.

“But . . . Dissipation had left its impress upon his once fair and

intellectual face. . . . His brow was furrowed with care and unhappi-

ness. . . .

“His shattered nerves and wasted frame showed the result of violat-

ing Nature’s laws. He confessed to a wasted life, an unsuccessful

chase after happiness.”—Ellen G. White,

My Life Today, p. 167.

Discussion Questions:

● A university professor once remarked to a Seventh-day

Adventist student, “I don’t need your Jesus. I am famous, I have

a good home, I have a good job. What do you have that I don’t

have?” As a class, discuss what you would answer.

● As a class, talk about some modern-day Solomon, some rich

and famous person seeming to have it all who, in the end, reveals

just how miserable his or her life has been. What lessons can you

learn?

● Talk about your own experiences with desiring worldly things,

only to get them and realize that, in the end, they didn’t give you

the happiness and satisfaction that you had expected. What

advice might you give to some young person who is in hot pursuit

of riches?

tor

INSIDE

Finding God’s Message of

Love

by SOFIA BARAHONA

While walking through the market one day, Sofia saw a friend talking to

another couple. Her friend introduced Sofia, and the four talked easily. The

recent hurricane that had ravaged their country, Honduras, was on every-

one’s mind. The heavy rains had damaged Sofia’s house and ruined many of

her possessions. Sofia wondered whether the hurricane had been a message

from God. So, when the couple turned the conversation to God, Sofia lis-

tened with interest. Her new friends saw her interest and offered to study the

Bible with her. Sofia eagerly agreed.

The couple visited Sofia and studied the Bible with her. Soon she began

attending church with them on Sabbath. Her teacher’s mind helped her

appreciate the in-depth Bible study Adventists enjoyed. Sofia wanted to fol-

low Jesus in baptism. She was relieved when her husband did not object to

the changes in their lives that her new faith brought.

Sofia became an active soul winner. In her school system it is legal to talk

about religion, and Sofia encourages her young students to sing a song or

pray in class. Sometimes students stop after school to talk to her about God,

and she invites them to visit the little church that meets in their town.

Recently the church held evangelistic meetings, and Sofia invited the stu-

dents to bring their parents.

Sofia is an active leader in a small group that meets in her town. She loves

to share God’s love with others, just as her friends shared God’s love with

her. She studies the Bible with anyone who is interested.

Sofia looks forward to retiring from teaching soon. “There’s too much to

do,” she says. “I want to spend time with my family and do more mission-

ary work. I will have more time to work for

God when I retire.” To Sofia, her family is her

first mission field. One of her children has

been baptized, and another is preparing for

baptism. Her prayer is that her husband and

older children will see the beauty of life in

Jesus.

Mission offerings helped bring Sof

ia to

Christ and establish the new group of believers

in her to

wn.

The

y continue to provide materi-

als that Sofia uses to lead others to Jesus’ feet.

SOFIA BARAHONA (left) shares God’s love in El Chimbo,

Hondur

as.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

L ESSON

*January 20-26

Of Being and Time

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week’s Study:

Ecclesiastes 3.

Memory Text:

“I said in mine heart, God shall judge the right-

eous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose

and for every work” (Ecclesiastes 3:17).

“For I have known them all already, known them all / Have known

the evenings, mornings, afternoons, / I have measured out my life with

coffee spoons.”—T. S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.”

aybe we all don’t measure our lives out with coffee spoons,

but we do measure out our lives, and for most of us, if

blessed, that measurement comes out to about “threescore

years and ten” and, if especially blessed, “fourscore.” As those who

already have seen a good portion of their years pass by, it’s not a lot.

Time is, therefore, a precious commodity for mortal beings.

For that reason, maybe, chapter 3 opens up a theme important to us

all: time. Beginning with some of the most beautiful poetry ever writ-

ten, Solomon touches on various themes all related one way or another

with the question of time: How important is the timing of the things

we do? What does the concept of eternity mean to human beings, who,

in and of themselves, are left behind by eternity? When will all the

evil and iniquity in the world be judged by God? What’s the ultimate

difference between humanity and animals if, in the end, all wind up in

the same place?

Heavy themes for just one chapter. But, as we’ve been saying all along,

they can be understood only through looking at these verses in the con-

text of all Scripture, which has much to say on these crucial topics.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 27.

SUNDAY

January 21

The God of Time

How accurate is your watch? Probably not as accurate as a cesium-

beam clock, which measures time down to the 9,192,631,700th of a

second—the frequency at which certain atoms absorb and emit radia-

tion. In other words, that’s the timing that God has built into that part

of nature. Talk about precise!

At the NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center in the United States,

scientists have a chart on which they have written down all the

eclipses from about 2000

B.C. until A.D. 3000. In other words, the tim-

ing that God has built into this aspect of nature is so accurate that we

are able to know not only when past eclipses occurred but when future

ones will, as well.

As nature shows, the Lord is in control of time. As Adventists, peo-

ple who are particularly interested in prophecy, this comes as no sur-

prise. After all, many of the prophecies that have helped us understand

our identity and mission as a movement are tied in with time.

Review

the following time prophecies that have meant so much to

us as a people, prophecies that have been fulfilled

(Dan. 7:25, 8:14,

9:24-27, Rev. 12:14). What do these prophecies tell us about the

power and sovereignty of God over human affairs?

___________________________________________________________________

In numerous places the Bible talks about the role of time in God’s

plans. Jesus appeared in Galilee declaring that “the time is fulfilled”

(Mark 1:15). Paul, in reference to the first coming of Jesus, wrote

that “when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son”

(Gal. 4:4); in reference to the Second Coming, he wrote: “until our

Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own

time” (1 Tim. 6:14, 15, NKJV). An angel appeared to John and said

to him, “ ‘Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the

time is at hand’ ” (Rev. 22:10, NKJV). We can see that God works

through time in order to bring about His will.

Are there any issues you are struggling with regarding the tim-

ing of events? If so, you must get on your knees, surrender your

will to the Lord, and trust in Him who has shown that He is in

control of time

What else can y

ou do to lear

n to trust in the

Lord’s timing of events?

MONDAY

January 22

A Time to . . . ?

Read

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Notice the contrast of opposites: birth, death;

build, break down; love, hate; and so forth.Though scholars debate

the exact meaning of these verses, Solomon seems to be talking

about various aspects of human life and that at certain times some

things are appropriate while at other times the opposite things are.

The key, perhaps, to help unlock the meaning is the beginning of

verse 11 in which, after talking about God, Solomon says, “He has

made everything beautiful in its time” (NKJV); that is, these various

things, in their proper time, are right. Rather than these verses being

about God’s overriding providence, they deal more with human free-

dom and our timing of events.

Most problematic, of course, is “a time to kill” (vs. 3). Though var-

ious explanations have been given, it’s important to remember who

Solomon was, the king, and that he ruled over a nation that had the

death penalty (see Exod. 22:18-20; Lev. 20:2, 9-16; 24:14-16; Num.

15:35). Also, it’s worthwhile noting that the Hebrew verb for “kill” in

Ecclesiastes 3:3 is not the same Hebrew word as that in Exodus 20:13,

a word that is commonly understood as “murder.”

How

do these following verses help us understand how important tim-

ing is in our lives?

Ps. 37:9

____________________________________________________________________

Matt. 5:21-24

____________________________________________________________________

Matt. 8:21, 22

____________________________________________________________________

Rom. 8:25

____________________________________________________________________

Rom. 12:19

____________________________________________________________________

1 Cor. 4:5

____________________________________________________________________

James 1:19

____________________________________________________________________

Are there any big decisions or choices you have to make? If so, how

important is timing in y

our decision? Might the decision be better

off being delayed? Or might delay be the wrong thing to do? Think

through, again, the importance of the words “To every thing there

is a season, and a time

” How could prayer, Bible study, and coun-

sel with others help you make the right decision at the right time?

TUESDAY

January 23

Eternity in Their Hearts

The concept of time continues in Ecclesiastes 3:11-15. As you read

through these difficult texts, take note of the various references to

time in them (it’s important to note that in verse 11 it can be translated

as “he has put eternity in their heart” [NKJV]).

According

to your best understanding of these texts, what point is

Solomon making? Again, interpret them by taking into account all

Scripture.

Solomon here acknowledges the power of God in contrast to the

weakness and folly of humanity. Again, Solomon isn’t advocating a

life of mindless physical pleasure; instead, in their right time, the

fruits of human labor can reap enjoyment now, “under the sun,” in this

life.

We can’t fully understand the works and providence of God (“no

man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the

end”

[vs. 11]); we don’t need to. Might Solomon be expressing what

Jesus said in Matthew 6:34? “Take therefore no thought for the mor-

row: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

How

do you understand the phrase that God has “put eternity” in the

hearts of human beings? Think of the answer in the context of

Solomon’s unhappy and unfulfilled life as king (see also Heb.

11:13-16, 1 John 2:15-17).

As we’ll see in Thursday’s lesson, humans and animals alike have a

common destiny “under the sun.” We—along with goats, alligators,

and weasels—die. The difference, though, is that God has put eternity

in our hearts. As humans we can conceive of an existence beyond us;

we realize that though we die, time will go on, even for eternity, while

we are left behind. Thus, every day of our lives we are confronted with

death, and this causes us worry, fear, and a sense of incompleteness.

Which is how it should be; we shouldn’t be content with, or indiffer-

ent to, our fate, because we were never meant to die. Death is an

intruder, the work of Satan

(Heb. 2:14, 1 John 3:8). That’s one reason

why, in the end, all physical enjoyments are so hollow, empty, such

hebel—they can’t answer the reality of death, which is always lurking

over our shoulder and ne

er f

ther than a hear

tbeat a

way.

Of course, the good news, the great news, is that Jesus came in

order to destroy death and thus, for now, free us from the fear

that death often brings

(Heb

. 2:15).

WEDNESDAY

January 24

Jesus and Judgment

Solomon again continues exploring the question of time. Now,

though, he switches the topic to something else entirely. In

Ecclesiastes 3:16, 17, he opens up a theme that will be repeated in the

book of Ecclesiastes: human injustice and God’s judgment.

Read

verse 16. What is he saying? How could there be wickedness in

the “place of justice” (NIV)? And in the place of righteousness,

iniquity? What could he be talking about? Where have you seen,

even today, wickedness where there should be justice and iniquity

where there should be righteousness? Also, how do these things

make you feel? How did they make Solomon feel? (See also Prov.

17:23, 21:27, John 2:14.)

Who, of course, isn’t upset at injustice and iniquity, especially in

places in which there should be justice and righteousness? Thus,

Solomon, like us, wanted to see judgment done, and despite his sour

attitude about a lot of things, he still believed in the ultimate justice

that God would mete out in His own time

(Eccles. 3:17), for, as he

said, there is a time “for every purpose and for every work,” especially

the work of God’s judgment.

Read

John 12:31, where Jesus says “Now is the judgment of this

world.” In what sense could we say that the Cross was a judgment

of both the righteous and the wicked?

At the Cross, a place of judgment, we see incredible injustice: the

sinless Son of God dying for the sins of an ungrateful and wicked

world

(Rom. 5:6, 1 John 2:2). At the same time, it is a place of right-

eousness because Jesus, who has “the righteousness of God” (2 Pet.

1:1) Himself, is there. And yet, in this place of righteousness, we see

iniquity—the iniquity of the whole world being punished in the per-

son of Jesus, who became sin “for us”

(2 Cor. 5:21). We can say that

judgment of the righteous occurred at the Cross, because there,

through the death of Jesus, vindication in judgment is assured (Rom.

8:1); at the same time, the condemnation of the lost is guaranteed

because, in light of the Cross, they will have no excuse

(John 3:19).

If someone w

e to ask you to explain, in a short paragraph,

what the death of Christ offers you, what would you write?

Bring that paragraph to class to share with others.

THURSDAY

January 25

Of Men and Beasts

Read

Ecclesiastes 3:18-22. Keeping in mind, again, the whole mes-

sage of Scripture, not to mention the context in which Solomon

was writing, what important point is he making here? What mes-

sage is here that we all should pay heed to?

___________________________________________________________________

It is true: At one level what’s the difference between a dead person

and a dead dog? And the longer they’re dead, the harder it is to tell

them apart, for eventually both become nothing but crumbled bones.

Solomon is, again, looking at the meaninglessness of life lived apart

from God, a life lived only for the immediate pleasures of this world.

It has to be meaningless because when it’s all done, humans and beasts

“all go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again”

(vs. 20). As we saw in Tuesday’s lesson, that’s a conclusion most

humans find unsettling, one that makes all that comes before death not

only

hebel but even worse. One atheist author wrote about the “absurd-

ity” of life: It taunts us with the hope and promise of meaning, and yet

in the end we all end up in the same meaningless place as the beasts.

What

Bible texts can you find that would answer each of the verses in

Ecclesiastes 3:18-22?

vs. 18 (for example, Ps. 8:5-8)

____________________________________________________________________

vs. 19 (for example, John 3:16)

____________________________________________________________________

vs. 20

____________________________________________________________________

vs. 21

____________________________________________________________________

vs. 22

____________________________________________________________________

Life itself, even in the best of circumstances, can be hard. We all

struggle, one way or another. How thankful we should be for the hope

that awaits us once this is all said and done.

Which is your favorite Bible text that talks about life for the

redeemed after the Second Coming? Read it o

er, pray over it,

and then write out in y

our o

wn words what the text says to you.

FRIDAY

January 26

Further Study:

Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 662–678.

“True, refined independence never disdains to seek counsel of the

experienced and of the wise, and it treats the counsel of others with

respect.”—Ellen G. White,

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 240.

“The timing of things may tell much in favor of truth. Victories are

frequently lost through delays. There will be crises in this cause.

Prompt and decisive action at the right time will gain glorious tri-

umphs, while delay and neglect will result in great failures and posi-

tive dishonor to God.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church,

vol. 3, p. 498.

“Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He

deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share,

that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no

share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the

life which was His. ‘With His stripes we are healed.’ ”—Ellen G.

White,

The Desire of Ages, p. 25.

Discussion Questions:

● As a class, discuss your answer to Wednesday’s question. What

can you learn from what each other wrote?

● It has been said that a right decision at the wrong time is still

a wrong decision. Is there anyone in your church about to make

an important decision? If so, and that person is open to counsel,

what could you do as a class to help that person know not only

what decision to make but to know the best timing for it?

● As a class, talk about death, about what it means to us as

Christians, about how we should face it, about the hope that we

have despite death, about why even with the promises of God it’s

still so painful.

● What are some of the great injustices that you have seen in

your lifetime? How should the knowledge that God will bring

final and perfect justice help you deal with so much human

injustice here? Also, as a class, discuss this question: Should the

fact that God promises to bring final justice hinder us in our

pursuit of justice in this life no

tor

INSIDE

Soldier for Christ

by MICHAEL SOKIRI

Sudan is a nation that has been at war with itself since before I was born.

When I was 12, I joined the army.

One day as I walked along a path near a village, I heard a group of peo-

ple arguing about religion. I had no religion, but I was curious, so I

stopped to listen.

In our culture we listen to what visitors have to say. But these villagers

were arguing with their visitors. I urged them to let the visitors speak.

They were discussing the Sabbath. The villagers listened for a while, but

they started arguing again about which day is God’s day. “Let those who

want to worship on Sunday do so,” I urged, “and those who wish to wor-

ship on Sabbath do so.”

I learned that the visitors lived near me. So, I went to talk to them about

religion. I sensed they knew the truth, but I tried to provoke them to argue.

When they refused I began asking sincere questions. Eventually I studied

with them and decided to follow them. But before I could be baptized, I

was sent to the front lines.

When I shared my new faith with fellow soldiers, they were surprised,

for they knew I used to smoke opium. When they learned that I had cut

down my opium bushes, some soldiers were angry, for they had bought

opium from me. They found the lay evangelists who had taught me the

Bible and beat them. The evangelists dared not flee because the soldiers

would kill them.

The war turned against us, and we soldiers fled. I fled into Uganda,

where I lived as a refugee. There God taught me to read the Bible. I

became a gospel evangelist and returned to Sudan to work for God.

I shared my faith with Simon and told him what God was doing for me

and the beliefs that Adventists hold dear. Simon became an Adventist, but

his wife rejected his new faith and left him. However, when she saw the

changes in his life, she returned and joined him in baptism. His sisters also

accepted the Adventist faith. Word spread about Simon’s conversion, and

people from his village were so amazed at the changes in him that they

studied the Bible with him and became Adventists too.

I share my faith with everyone I can, both in the refugee camp and in

my home area. How precious it is to read God’s Word and share it with

others, to watch their faith grow until they accept God’s truths.

Your Sabbath School Mission offerings support the work of the church

in difficult-to-reach areas such as Sudan.

MICHAEL SOKIRI is a c

hur

h elder in

ei, Sudan.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

L ESSON

*January 27–February 2

More Life Under the Sun

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This W

eek’

s Study:

Ecclesiastes 4.

Memor

y Text:

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the

law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

s we begin this week, you’ll perhaps notice something inter-

esting, something that commentators have written about over

the ages. Ecclesiastes starts to sound more and more like the

book of Proverbs. Proverbs is often a series of short little sayings that

deal with practical knowledge about daily life, though not always nec-

essarily in an order that is easy to follow.

Take, for instance, Proverbs 6, which begins with some thoughts

about work, such as “Go to the ant, thou sluggard”

(Prov 6:6), fol-

lowed by words about a “naughty person” (vs. 12), to a warning about

the six things “that God hates” (vs. 16, NKJV), to words about obey-

ing parents

(vs. 20), and finally to a warning about the dangers of

wanton women (vss. 24-35).

We can see some of this same style in Ecclesiastes 4, where

Solomon covers a number of issues, everything from the oppression

that many people suffer from to the meaning of life, to the issue of

envy, then to questions about the purpose of work, and finally to ideas

of community and fellowship. Though oftentimes his sentences are

sharp, to the point, very poetic, and without much elaboration, they

touch on larger themes that can be explored in a number of ways that

have relevance to us even today. Let’s take a look and see what the

Lord is saying to us here.

*Study this week’s lesson to pr

epar

e f

or Sabbath, February 3.

SUNDAY

January 28

The Oppressors

Read

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3. Rewrite in your own words what Solomon is

saying.

___________________________________________________________________

Solomon is, again, looking at life from a worldly perspective, from

“under the sun.” These words, though, are somewhat interesting when

you consider who is writing them: the king himself. It would be one

thing if a slave were bemoaning his fate at the hands of his or her mas-

ters or if a poor person were lamenting his or her fate under the oppres-

sion of the rich. But in this case, you have the richest and most power-

ful leader in the nation complaining about injustice and oppression.

tend to think of oppression usually in the context of politics or wealth.

There are, though, other ways people can be oppressed. What about

husbands and wives, or parents and children? What about religious

oppression, the use of religion to oppress and exploit others? Or

what about employers and employees? Or sexual harassment; is not

that a form of oppression? What other kinds can you think of?

Could someone be an oppressor without even realizing it? Look up

the following texts. What principles are found there that, if applied,

would protect someone from falling into that role, even unwittingly?

Mark 10:43, 44; 1 Cor. 9:19; Phil. 2:3; 2 Tim. 2:24; 1 John 3:16; 4:11.

___________________________________________________________________

Power can be a subtle thing. Used correctly, it can be a great bless-

ing, for with power one can guide, even command, others in the right

direction. It’s also a very easy thing to abuse. As has been said, “Power

corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Most of us, in one

way or another, have power over others. The crucial question is how

do we use it?

Look at yourself. What kind of power do you exert? How well

are you following the principles expressed in the texts for today?

What changes might y

ou need to make in order to make sure

you’re not abusing that power?

MONDAY

January 29

Is Life Worth it?

“Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more

than the living which are yet alive.Yea, better is he than both they,

which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is

done under the sun”

(Eccles. 4:2, 3).

“There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that

is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts

to answering the fundamental question of philosophy.”—Albert

Camus,

he Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays (New York: Vintage

Books, 1955), p. 3.

However differently phrased, both quotes touch on a similar ques-

tion: Is human life worth the bother? Considering all the pain, suffer-

ing, and disappointment that go into living, and we still die anyway—

is life worth it?

The answer, ultimately, depends upon your view of what the mean-

ing of life is. If one takes the position that our life here is capped and

culminated at death and that nothing comes after, you will have one

view. If you believe that this life is only a temporary stop on the way

to something better, something eternal, then you will have another

view. Thus, in many ways, the answer to the question Is life worth it?

depends, ironically enough, on the question of death. Is death the end

or only the end of the beginning?

Write

out your answer to the question Is life worth it? Give a yes or

no answer and then defend your position the best you can, using

whatever Bible texts you deem necessary. Bring your answer to

class on Sabbath.

___________________________________________________________________

TUESDAY

January 30

Envy

Solomon here is on a real roll. After saying, basically, that one is

better off not to have ever been born than to live and see all the oppres-

sion “done under the sun” (Eccles. 4:1), he then delves into another

theme, envy (vss. 4-6). Fair enough; after all, it’s a worthwhile topic to

look at from a biblical perspective. Even one of the Ten

Commandments deals, at its root, with the issue of envy (Which

one?). Solomon, though, takes it to another level: All toil and all skill-

ful work is nothing but a person being jealous of a neighbor. That’s a

cynical attitude, to be sure, and though there’s some truth to it, he cer-

tainly pushes the problem of envy to an extreme.

Nevertheless, envy is a human problem. In fact, it’s more than a

human problem. It was, indeed, the original sin. “Satan was envious and

jealous of Jesus Christ. Yet when all the angels bowed to Jesus to

acknowledge His supremacy and high authority and rightful rule, Satan

bowed with them; but his heart was filled with envy and hatred.”—Ellen

G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 18. Thus, when we start

manifesting envy and jealousy, we are reflecting the character of Satan.

Find

three accounts in the Bible of where envy played a big role in the

unfolding story. Write out the nasty results that this envy brought.

What lessons can we learn about the fruit of envy?

1.______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

3.______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

What has been your own experience with jealousy and envy in

your own hear

t? What steps can you take in order to help sub-

due this beast? Think through the life of Jesus. How, by dwelling

on Him, can you, through God’s grace, destroy this sin before it

destroys you?

WEDNESDAY

January 31

Labor for Whom?

“I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to

support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,

how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Read

Ecclesiastes 4:7, 8. After attacking all work and skill as nothing

but envy, Solomon, in verses 7 and 8, takes another spin on work:

What do people work for? In this case, he is talking about some-

one who is alone, who has no children, no one either to support or

to pass on the fruits of his labor. Is he doing all this only for him-

self? If so, what’s the purpose?

Whatever the immediate context, these verses raise an important

question regarding humanity. Oftentimes the most miserable of all

human beings are the most selfish, the ones who live only for self and

who care only about themselves. Whatever the immediate gains, after

a while, as they see how small they are, how fleeting life is, how little

they matter in the scheme of things “under the sun,” such people find

so little purpose, so little meaning, to their existence. As human

beings we were not meant to live only for ourselves; on the contrary,

the whole purpose of selfless love, as exemplified in the life of Jesus,

is to live in order to help others. There’s a sense of fulfillment, of joy,

of purpose when one gives of oneself for others. And the good news

is that you don’t have to be married or have children in order to do

this. As long as there are human beings around, there will be people

to whom you can be a blessing, and by blessing others you receive a

blessing for yourself.

Look

up the following texts. What message do they have for us, as fol-

lowers of Christ, in regard to issues raised in today’s lesson? Matt.

25:31-46, Mark 10:45, Acts 2:43-45, Heb. 13:1-3.

___________________________________________________________________

What are your priorities? How much time do you spend think-

ing only about y

our

self and y

our own needs, in contrast to oth-

ers and the needs of others? Be honest. How well are you fulfill-

ing the Bible call to live not just for yourself but for others?

THURSDAY

February 1

The Cord and Community

Solomon, in verses 8-12 of Ecclesiastes 4, has moved toward

another thought in a fairly logical progression: from living only for

oneself to the advantages of community. Though he’s talking in a very

poetic manner and uses a few specific examples of how much better

two are than one, the general point is important: As human beings, we

were made for community. We were made to live in contact with oth-

ers. We were made in a way that we need others.

In 1998, a landlord entered the Bonn, Germany, apartment of

Wolfgang Dircks when rent invoices to Dircks’s bank stopped being

paid. The landlord found a skeleton—a skeleton!—in a chair in front

of a television set that, though broken, was still on. Just as incredible

was that Christmas lights on his tree were still blinking; near his chair

was a TV program guide from December 5, 1993. He probably died

that day, and nobody, for at least five years, missed him. Talk about the

need for others!

Read

1 Corinthians 12. What point is Paul making that is, basically,

the same point that Solomon is making in these few verses in

Ecclesiastes?

___________________________________________________________________

In the same sense that there is no established “one-man or one-

woman physics,” there is no “one-man or one-woman Christianity.”

Of course, Christian faith means nothing unless a person has a one-to-

one relationship with God. That is crucial. But it’s directly out of that

vertical relationship, that human-to-God relationship, that a person is

also established in a relationship with a community, a church.

It’s common to hear people say “I want nothing to do with organ-

ized religion.” Well, what do they want, disorganized religion? No, of

course not. Instead, that line is often a cover for people who don’t want

the commitment or responsibility or even the submission that comes

from being part of a group that’s bigger than themselves.

How well do you relate to your local church community? What

can you do to be a more active participant, using your gifts to

help those who don’t have what you do? At the same time, how

willing are you to go to the church and seek help for something

that you can’t do on your own?

FRIDAY

February 2

Further Study:

Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6,

pp. 261–265; Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 29, 30.

The writer Kurt Vonnegut once said: “What should young people do

with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring

thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of

loneliness can be cured.”

Koinonia is the Greek word for “fellowship.” As humans we were

created for community, for fellowship, for human interaction. But not

just any kind of interaction. After all, if you want human interaction

you can go to a bar or to a football game and interact with others. No,

the biblical idea is human interaction of a different kind, an interaction

arising out of a community of people who, out of their love for God,

have covenanted to love and care for and help each other. People shar-

ing common views, common goals, common dreams, and a common

purpose—but most of all, people who care about each other and who

are dedicated to helping each other, regardless of their needs. That’s

what Christian community should be about.

Discussion Questions:

● As a class, discuss this important question: How well does your

local church function as a community? How well does it work

together to meet the needs of its members, whatever those needs

are? Assess the areas where your church is strong and where it is

weak. What can you all do, as a class, to help your local church

fulfill its role as a community of believers grounded in love for

God and love for each other?

● Read aloud and discuss your answers to the question Is life

worth it?

● Discuss more this question of power and how power is wielded.

In what subtle ways can someone abuse power; at the same time,

what problems can arise when someone doesn’t use the power

they have been given?

tor

INSIDE

The 17-Year Effort

Wani and Wai are two villages located on opposite sides of a lagoon on

the coast of Papua New Guinea. Adventist missionaries came to Wani and

raised up a church. After several years they felt led to visit Wai and teach

the people there that Jesus was coming soon. They hired a boat and set out

across the lagoon to Wai.

The believers from Wani played hand-cranked cassettes of Christian

music for the people of Wai. The local elders allowed the people of Wani

to hold a meeting that day to share their faith. The people of Wani told the

people of Wai that Jesus was coming soon.

The people of Wai were Christians and invited the Adventists to return

on Sabbath to share their beliefs with them. Most of the two hundred peo-

ple who attended the Sabbath meeting were children, so the villagers from

Wani geared the meeting toward them.

The Adventists helped build houses and worked in the gardens on Wai.

The people of Wai appreciated the friendship and the help; but except for

the children, they were not interested in listening to their message of hope.

After a year, the leaders on Wai told the people of Wani, “We have our own

church. Don’t try to convert us.”

The people of Wani knew that a few people in Wai wanted to learn what

they taught, but if the local elders refused to let them preach, they could

not preach. Sadly the people of Wani stopped going every week to Wai.

Tautin was an old man living in Wai. He had listened to the Adventist

message, and he believed. When the Adventists stopped coming, Tautin

found a boat going to Wani and rode along. “Please,” he begged the

Adventists, “come back, visit me, and teach me God’s truth.”

Gladly some believers from Wani returned to Wai to teach Tautin and his

family about God. Sixteen years later Tautin asked to be baptized. But he

did not come alone. He brought six of his children with him, and they all

were baptized.

Today 30 or so people worship on Sabbath in Wai. Seven have been bap-

tized, and others are preparing for baptism. It took 17 years, but the vil-

lage of Wai at last has a congregation of believers. They plan to build a

chapel on Tautin’s land. In the meantime, they hire a boat and worship with

their brothers and sisters in Wani.

And what did the 17-year effort do for the believers in Wani? Their

church grew so much that it cannot hold everyone who attends. That hap-

pens when believers catch the spirit of mission. Catch the spirit of mission

each time you gi

ve your Mission offering in Sabbath School.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

L ESSON

*February 3-9

Rich Man, Poor Man

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week’s Study:

Ecclesiastes 5.

Memory Text:

“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with

silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also van-

ity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

eo Tolstoy wrote a short story called “How Much Land Does a

Man Need?” It was about a peasant, Pahom, who swore, “If I

had plenty of land, I shouldn’t fear the devil himself.” Pahom

then heard about the Bahkirs, people who sold land cheaply. He trav-

eled there and was offered land at “a thousand rubles a day.” What did

that mean? They told him: “We sell it by the day. As much land as you

can go around on your feet in a day is yours.” Only one condition: If

you didn’t return on the same day to the spot you started, the money

would be lost. Pahom, delighted, started walking and walking and

walking. . . . He was getting so much land! He kept going, all day, only

to realize that he had better get back before the day ended. He had

gone too far. He had to rush, or else all was lost! He hurried and hur-

ried, only to collapse dead within sight of the starting spot.

His servants dug a grave and buried him. How much land does a

man need?

“Six feet from his head to his heels was all he needed,” wrote

Tolstoy.

This week we’ll look a little more at what Solomon has to say about

wealth and poverty. He said a lot; we’ll cover what we can.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 10.

SUNDAY

February 4

God in Heaven, Humanity on Earth

Read

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7. Though you might not understand every

phrase, summarize the basic message:

___________________________________________________________________

However much Solomon in Ecclesiastes, as in Proverbs, focused on

practical living and moral injunction, he did so always with an aware-

ness of the reality and presence of God. Here, too, in these lines,

Solomon expresses not only the reality of God but the closeness of

God; that is, God cares how you approach Him, God cares how you

talk to Him, and God cares about you paying your vows to Him.

Solomon’s God, the God of the Bible, isn’t the God of deists, some

distant deity who created the world and then left it to its own devices.

If so, we would truly have reason to despair.

In this context, Solomon is talking about how we as humans should

relate to God.

Read

Matthew 21:28-31. How does this text fit in with the message

of Solomon here?

___________________________________________________________________

The point, of course, is obvious: If we tell the Lord that we plan on

doing something, we’d better do it. However, that’s easier said than

done. How often have we made vows to God, promising and swearing

oaths that we will stop doing this or that or that we will always do such

and such, only to fail? Sure, we might have meant it at the time, and

really tried, but we failed either way. What’s our situation then?

How

do Matthew 18:21-23, Romans 2:4, and 1 John 2:1 help us under-

stand the hope that we can have despite failures?

___________________________________________________________________

Have you made promises to God that you haven’t kept? If so,

what’s the only thing you can do?

MONDAY

February 5

Poor Man

“For ye have the poor always with you” (Matt. 26:11).

Solomon now returns to a key theme of this whole book: money and

those who have a lot and those who don’t.

Read

Ecclesastes 5:8. Kind of strange words, if you think about it.

After all, it was Solomon himself or, at least, his government who

set up taxation for his nation. At least in Ecclesiastes Solomon

noticed some of the problems the poor had under this oppressive

bureaucracy.

What

are some of the problems people often encounter when working

through a typical bureaucratic system? Solomon offers no solu-

tion to the problem; all he says is don’t be surprised by it.

Look

up the following texts; note what each one says about how the

poor should be treated. What common theme appears in all of

these texts?

Exod. 23:6

____________________________________________________________________

Lev. 19:15

____________________________________________________________________

Lev. 25:39-43

____________________________________________________________________

Deut. 15:7, 11

____________________________________________________________________

Deut. 24:14, 15

____________________________________________________________________

Earlier in the book (Eccles. 4:1), Solomon bemoaned the oppres-

sion he had seen under the sun. We saw, too, that there were different

ways people could oppress others. A common one, known all through

history, has been the oppression of the poor by the rich. The few texts

above, and there are others, show how the Lord, while acknowledging

the existence of the poor, gave strict rules on how they were to be

treated. All human beings are equal before God—the Cross more than

proves that; the sad fact, however, is that it’s so easy for those who

have money to wield abusive power over those who don’t. Such

actions, of course, are condemned in the

ord.

When Jesus came to this world, did He come as someone rich or

poor? What does your answer say to you about how you should

relate to those who are poorer, at least in finances, than you are?

What is your attitude toward them?

TUESDAY

February 6

The King and the Field

“Moreover the profit of the land is for all; the king himself is

served from the field” (Eccles. 5:9, NKJV).

Read

the above text. What is it saying? What message should every-

one, especially the rich and the powerful, take from it? See also

Deut. 10:14, Pss. 8:6, 24:1, 115:16.

___________________________________________________________________

Rich or poor, powerful or oppressed, there’s one thing we all have in

common: We all live on this planet. We all breathe its air, drink its

water, and eat the food that grows out of its ground. Some might get

cleaner air, purer water, better food, but in the end we’re all equally

dependent upon what God has provided for us.

That realization, however, hasn’t stopped the gross inequities we see

in this world today, just as Solomon saw them in his day.

What would Solomon say about a world in which people can spend

almost $13,000 a night for a room at a hotel in Paris while millions of

others the world over are homeless?

What would he say about a world in which people can spend

$370,000 on a Ferrari while others don’t even have shoes?

What would he say about an auction a few years ago in Canada dur-

ing which someone paid $85,000 for a bottle of 1735 wine from

Germany while billions of people don’t even have regular access to

fresh drinking water?

He would be appalled, for sure. The Lord has provided more than

enough of everything for human beings here. Though the causes of

poverty are complex, there’s no doubt that greed, corruption, and covet-

ousness have made it a lot worse.

No question, those who have made themselves rich through the

exploitation of the poor will find themselves face to face with an

angry God.

Read James 5:1-8.

Though the ob

vious messag

e is clear, what

principle is being expressed that could apply to each of us in

how we treat others? Whether rich or poor, ask yourself, What

could this text be sa

ying to me?

WEDNESDAY

February 7

Never Enough

A poster once read, “Money doesn’t make you happy, but it sure

makes misery a lot more comfortable.”

Most would agree. But as the book of Ecclesiastes shows, money

and wealth don’t solve all our problems, don’t guarantee happiness,

and don’t come without problems of their own.

Read

Ecclesiastes 5:10. What point is being made? What principle is

seen there that applies to more than just money? See also Prov.

27:20; Isa. 56:11, 12.

___________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Any desire, passion, or even ambition that isn’t under the control of

the Lord is never easily satisfied, no matter how greatly indulged. This

problem is seen especially among drug addicts. Before long, the

amount of drugs they had before isn’t enough; they keep needing

more and more. It can work with a lot of other things, as well, includ-

ing money.

Read

Luke 12:13-21. What’s the point of this parable? Is Jesus talk-

ing against wealth per se, or is something else going on? If so,

what?

___________________________________________________________________

Perhaps the key to understanding this parable is found at the end of

verse 21, when Jesus warns about those who are not “rich toward God.”

Though He doesn’t explain here, Jesus seems to be warning about

those whose life is swept up in the pursuit of riches at the expense of

everything else, including one’s obligations to God. As Jesus said else-

where, to whom much is given “much [is] required”

(Luke 12:48), and

someone who has w

ealth has a responsibility to use it wisel

Oftentimes, though, those who have the most are the greediest, while

those with the least are willing to share the little they have.

Take an honest look at yourself: What are your attitudes toward

money? If you are more interested in being rich as opposed to

being “rich toward God,” how can you change? Why must you

change?

THURSDAY

February 8

Naked in the Dust

However much Ecclesiastes has challenged Bible students over the

centuries, if there is one message that comes through, perhaps it could

be found in Ecclesiastes 5:15. He’s talking about some of the foibles

and challenges of wealth, such as gaining money only to lose it all

before it can be passed on to the next generation

(Eccles. 5:14).

Ecclesiastes 5:15 in the original Hebrew reads like this: “As he

came forth from his mother’s womb, naked he will go again as he

came, and he will not carry in his hand anything of his work when he

does go.”

The point is obvious. The rich die along with the rest of us, and in

death all their money becomes meaningless. Yet, the message is big-

ger than that. Solomon’s whole point in the book is that, Hey, look at

your life—what are you living for? What matters in an existence that’s

filled with hebel? What, then, are the important things that we should

be focusing on?

Read

Matthew 16:24-26. What is Jesus saying to us in these few

verses?

___________________________________________________________________

What shall someone give for his or her own soul? Money, fame,

power, passion, even love? While these things can have their place,

and are even gifts from God

(Eccles. 5:18), they also can be the devil’s

tool to ensnare our souls. Whatever we have in this life, it’s only as

temporary and transient as we are. When we die, that’s it, at least as

far as we are concerned here. The next thing we know is eternity:

either “the kingdom prepared for [us] from the foundation of the

world”

(Matt. 25:34) or “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Luke 13:28)

and everlasting destruction (2 Thess. 1:9). What earthly things, as

temporal and fleeting as we are, will be worth it when “ye shall see

Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom

of God, and you yourselves thrust out” (Luke 13:28)?

What are the cords that Satan uses to bind you to this world?

What things do you find very tempting, hard to resist? What

Bible promises can you claim in order to keep your soul from

sin, from despair

and fr

om gi

ving up on yourself?

FRIDAY

February 9

Further Study:

Go back over Ecclesiastes 5 and read it again a few

times, focusing on the parts of the chapter that we didn’t get to discuss

this week.

In the context of the rich man in Luke 12:13-21, Ellen White wrote:

“The situation of the poor, the orphan, the widow, the suffering, the

afflicted, was brought to this rich man’s attention. . . . This man’s aims

were no higher than those of the beasts that perish. He lived as if there

were no God, no heaven, no future life; as if everything he possessed

were his own, and he owed nothing to God or man.”—Ellen G. White,

Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 256–258.

“In giving ourselves to God, we must necessarily give up all that

would separate us from Him. Hence the Saviour says, ‘Whosoever he

be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.’

Luke 14:33. Whatever shall draw away the heart from God must be

given up. Mammon is the idol of many. The love of money, the desire

for wealth, is the golden chain that binds them to Satan. Reputation

and worldly honor are worshiped by another class. The life of selfish

ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. But these

slavish bands must be broken. We cannot be half the Lord’s and half

the world’s. We are not God’s children unless we are such entirely.”

—Ellen G. White,

Steps to Christ, p. 44.

Discussion Questions:

● In your own society, what ways are the poor oppressed by the

rich? In what ways can we, as a church, help the poor in those

situations?

● In what ways might some of you, even as Christians, be

oppressing the poor?

● Solomon spends a lot of time talking about wealth because

money, and the pursuit of money, remains one of the great chal-

lenges for Christians. How can we profess to be “strangers and

pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. 11:13), while hoarding up treasure

here? At the same time, we have to live, we have to pay the bills,

we have to feed ourselves, and this all takes money. How much is

enough—or, indeed, is there ever enough? As a class, discuss the

challenges we face with this difficult subject.

tor

INSIDE

More Than Language

by KIM, SUNG AE

When my daughters, Tina and Kay, were in elementary school, I looked

for an English language school to supplement the classes they take in

school. I chose the Adventist Institute of English because of its high stand-

ards of academics.

After seeing how well the girls were doing in the language school, I

enrolled them in the Adventist school, which had the same reputation for

quality education. The girls thrived in their new school, where the staff

encouraged cooperative learning rather than the stiff competition that most

schools encouraged.

Tina and Kay studied religion in their new school, and they often asked

me questions about God. “Why don’t we attend church?” Kay asked me

one day. I made excuses, because I knew that my work required me to do

things that were at odds with Christianity. But Tina’s questions about God

were more direct and troubling. Finally I told the girls if they wanted to go

to church, they could go.

Tina and Kay began attending the Adventist church. They signed up for

Bible studies with the pastor. The pastor visited our home and invited us to

attend Bible studies too. I went twice, but the girls continued studying. In

time they were baptized. My husband often attended school and church

functions when the girls invited him. But I resisted.

Then I was injured in a climbing accident and could not work. With time

on my hands, I decided to enroll in English classes at the Adventist lan-

guage school. I began attending the weekend activities, including Bible

classes on Sabbath. At first my husband did not want to attend, but the

entire family was attending worship and taking Bible studies. I rejoiced to

see the changes that Christ was bringing to our home. We are growing in

faith together and now use the Bible as our standard of faith.

When Tina finished her classes at the Adventist elementary school, she

enrolled in a public high school. Now she must attend classes on Sabbath,

and this has affected her faith. When we realized the difficulties Tina faces

in school, we decided that Kay must study in Adventist schools, where she

can continue growing in Christ.

I still study English at the Adventist language school and love to invite

my friends to study and worship there too.

Mission offerings help fund the Adventist English Language schools

throughout Korea, which are a major evangelistic outreach in my country.

Thank you for helping m

y family find Christ through language studies.

KIM, SUNG AE

and her famil

y live in Seoul, K

ea.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

ow does one introduce Christ to people too busy to care? Show God’s face to

those who don’t know where to look? Plant a church in a city where most churches

stand nearly empty?

Geneva, Switzerland, is one of the most secular cities in the world. Its historic

churches stand empty while people pass by pursuing their futures. A group of

dedicated young people at the Adventist seminary in Collonges, France, have set

their sites on Geneva. Their challenge is to ﬁnd ways to present the gospel that is

relevant and appealing to the unchurched in Geneva.

And it’s working. The young people are creating new and deeply meaningful

encounters with God, brushing away 2000 years of dusty tradition. At one meeting

some 60 people, mostly college-age students and many university students in Geneva,

gathered for a meal and an encounter with Christ. These young people are searching

for God, for meaning, and the Adventist youth are helping them ﬁ

nd it.

I want to help these young people, hold up their spiritual hands, support their efforts

to build a vibrant, living group of believers in this great city of Europe. I can do that

through my mission offerings and especially through my Thirteenth Sabbath Offering,

part of which will help plant this church. For me it’s personal.

L ESSON

*February 10-16

Striving After the Wind

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week’s Study:

Ecclesiastes 6.

Memory Text:

“All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet

the soul is not satisfied”

(Ecclesiastes 6:7, NKJV).

e do not require great education of the mind to understand

that on this earth is no real and lasting satisfaction; that our

pleasures are only vanity; that our evils are infinite; and,

last, that death, which threatens us every moment, must infallibly

place us within a few years under the dreadful necessity of being for-

ever either annihilated or happy.

“There is nothing more real than this, nothing more terrible. Be we

as heroic as we like, that is the end which awaits the noblest life in the

world. Let us reflect on this, and then say whether it is not beyond

doubt that there is no good in this life but in the hope of another; that

we are happy only in proportion as we draw near it; and that, as there

are no more woes for those who have complete assurance of eternity,

so there is no more happiness for those who have no insight into it.”

—Blaise Pascal,

Pensées.

Pascal, writing in the seventeenth century, is in his own way

expressing some of the sentiments that Solomon expresses in

Ecclesiastes. This week we’ll continue to follow more of Solomon’s

woes; that is, more of his musings about the frustrations, inequities,

and injustices of life here in a fallen world.

*Study this week’s lesson to pr

epar

e f

or Sabbath, February 17.

SUNDAY

February 11

Safest Place on Earth?

“ ‘They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying,

“Peace, peace!” when there is no peace’ ” (Jer. 6:14, NKJV).

In the 1930s some of the world’s best minds, concerned about the

future, sought to find what they believed would be the safest place on

earth. That is, what place on this planet would be the least likeliest

location where anyone would be threatened by war? Using the best

resources, the finest data, the sharpest analysis, these great minds

found the ideal location, the safest place in the world in the 1930s. It

was an island in the Pacific. Its name?

Okinawa.

The point? It’s simple. Our world is a fallen world. Sin, death, and

suffering pervade the planet. The world, as it is, is not what it should

have been. There’s nothing “under the sun” that we can totally rely on.

Not even the ground beneath our feet, as anyone who ever suffered

through an earthquake could tell you.

In one sense, though, that could be good. Why? Because this world,

as it now is, is not our home. It’s a place scheduled for destruction

(2 Pet. 3:10-13); everything here will pass away (Luke 21:33, Rev. 21:1).

One of the greatest dangers we face is to forget this, to get so caught

up in the world or to be so in love with the world that we end up per-

ishing with it.

Read

Psalm 115:1-7, Isaiah 44:9-17, and Isaiah 45:20-22. Even

though these verses were written a long time ago, what’s the mes-

sage for us today? What danger is the Lord talking about that we

need to be careful of, as well?

___________________________________________________________________

So much of the Old Testament was the story of the Lord trying to

point His people away from the world, the practices and teachings and

gods of the world, things that, in the end, could not save them. Even

worse, not only could they not save them, they could not satisfy them

either.

What are some things in this world that make life here so hard?

In what ways can these hardships be a blessing; that is, in what

ways do they help you remember that this world is not your

final home?

MONDAY

February 12

When Gold Rusts

The Great Depression began in October 1929, when the stock mar-

ket in the United States dropped rapidly. Thousands of investors lost

large sums of money, and many fortunes were wiped out; many peo-

ple, both rich and poor, lost everything overnight. One wealthy busi-

nessman who owned three homes found himself and his family living

under a bridge for almost two years; they survived by selling off var-

ious leftover clothes and other odds and ends. This was a family that

two years before had taken an extended cruise and vacation in Europe.

Read

Ecclesiastes 6:1, 2. What point is Solomon making? In what

ways do you see this principle expressed with other things in the

world? What should be the ultimate message here for us?

___________________________________________________________________

We’ve all heard stories about people who have accumulated great

wealth, only to lose it all one way or another. What makes this even

more frustrating is that Solomon, of all people, knew that money

couldn’t buy happiness or peace of mind even when one gets to keep

it. And then there’s the great pain that comes when one loses it to oth-

ers, as well.

And it’s not just wealth either. How many people put great stock, for

instance, in power or prestige or a good name, only to have it all lost?

Again, this should tell us why we need to be careful about how much

we love this world, for most things in this world will one day be gone

forever.

Read Matthew 6:19, 20. (See also Luke 12:33.) It’s easy to

understand about not laying up treasure on earth, but how does

one lay up treasure in heaven? As you formulate your answer,

also write down the ways you are laying up treasure in heaven.

__________________________________________________________________

TUESDAY

February 13

Family Matters

God created the family to be a blessing—parents loving each other

while bestowing great love and affection on their children. The love

and closeness and commitment created in a family has been and still

continues to be one of the greatest joys that human beings can know.

Of course, Satan is real, and so is sin; the result is that families,

while a source of great joy, also can be a source of great pain and sor-

row.

Look up the following texts. What kind of family turmoil is

depicted here?

Gen. 4:1-8

____________________________________________________________________

Gen. 37:19-36

____________________________________________________________________

2 Sam. 11:1-4

____________________________________________________________________

2 Sam. 13:1-14

____________________________________________________________________

Matt. 10:35-37

____________________________________________________________________

1 Cor. 5:1

____________________________________________________________________

Of course, most of those family situations depicted above were

pretty pathetic. In Ecclesiastes 6:3, in contrast, Solomon is depicting

what would be kind of an ideal situation: A man lives a long life and

has many children, yet even that in the end doesn’t satisfy the deepest

needs. These “good things”—and they are good—still aren’t good

enough. God has created us with a longing for something that nothing

in this world, even a large loving family, can satisfy.

“Creatures are not born with desire unless satisfaction for those

desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food.

A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men

feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself

a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most prob-

able explanation is that I was made for another world.”—C. S. Lewis,

Mere Christianity (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996), p. 121.

Though, ultimately, our hope and security exist only in God,

family is still important. What can you do to help strengthen

your family bonds? Make an effort, through prayer, to deny

yourself in order to give more of yourself to your family.

WEDNESDAY

February 14

A Long Life?

Imagine this imaginary scene. Two people from another world are

talking. One says to the other, “You know, I just don’t understand the

meaning of life. Here I am, getting old. I have had a good life, but now

it’s coming to a close. Look at all those who came before me; look at all

those who will come after. We’re here, and then we are gone. It all goes

by so fast. I’ll be five thousand years old on my next birthday. It seemed

like just yesterday I turned four thousand. What does it all mean?”

This imaginary paragraph captures somewhat of what Solomon is

saying here in Ecclesiastes 6:1-7. In it, groaning over the inequities

and unfairness of life, he uses another symbol, this time a stillborn

infant (compare to Ecclesiastes 4:1-3), saying that it would be better

to die like this rather than see the meaninglessness and suffering of

life. Again, however negative, if you view this world as all there is,

with nothing else beyond, then it’s hard to argue with the logic: What’s

the sense of living a life that has no meaning?

Read

Ecclesiastes 6:6. What point is he making?

__________________________________________________________________

Life does go by fast; maybe, though, that’s a blessing for us in this

fallen world. Would you like to live for five thousand years in a sinful

world full of pain and suffering? However much we hate death, it’s a

relief for the dead, if not for the living left behind.

What

do these texts have to say about the problem of death? What

hope is found in them for us?

John 5:28, 29; 6:54; 10:28; 2 Tim.

1:10; Heb. 2:14; Rev. 21:4.

__________________________________________________________________

Using either some of the texts above or any other ones you find,

write out your favorite texts about eternal life, just one after

another, in a paragraph. Use as many as you like. Then read it

aloud and pray over those promises and claim them for yourself.

Also, be prepared to share them with the class on Sabbath.

THURSDAY

February 15

More Griping

In the last six verses of Ecclesiastes 6, Solomon continues his

laments about the fate of humanity. He expressed in another way

(vs. 7)

what he has been saying all along, that there is no ultimate and lasting

satisfaction in this life. It’s a truth, of course, that we know too well.

Ask

yourself, Why is this true? Why is it that the things of this world

don’t satisfy us? See also Gen. 3:19; Ps. 104:29; Isa. 57:12, 13; John

8:34; Rom. 7:5; Eph. 2:12.

___________________________________________________________________

The British poet Alexander Pope once wrote about how “pleasures

are ever in our hands or eyes,” and yet, when we do them, they cease to

bring us the pleasure we imagine. It’s only “in prospect” of doing them

that they seem so great; in reality, they don’t give us what we ultimately

hope they would.

Verses 8-12 of Ecclesiastes 6, though difficult, are again talking about

the general futility of life itself. We aren’t satisfied with what we have;

if we are wise or foolish, what does it matter; we can’t fight those

stronger than us; so often words are meaningless; and, finally, who

knows how to live our short lives here? And yet, given the context of

what he is talking about (a life lived apart from God), he makes a lot of

sense.

Though

we don’t know exactly what Solomon meant by the ques-

tion, What advantage does a wise person have over a foolish one?

he answers the questions for us in Proverbs.

See Prov. 1:5-7; 3:35;

10:1, 14; 12:15; 14:1, 3; 15:7; 17:10-12; 21:20.

___________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile,

how does Jesus show the difference between the wise

and the foolish? Matt. 7:24-27, 25:1-13.

___________________________________________________________________

According to what you have studied today, were your actions in

the past 24 hours those of a wise person or those of a fool? What

changes might you need to make?

FRIDAY

February 16

Further Study:

Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible

Commentary, vol. 2, p. 1026; Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons,

pp. 223, 374, 375; Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 258–262.

“But the great study and ambition of the world is to obtain material,

temporal advantages, to the neglect of spiritual good. Thus it is with

some members of the church. When at last they shall be called to ren-

der their account to God, they will not only be ashamed but astonished

that they did not discern the true riches, and have not laid up treasure

in the heavens. They have bestowed their gifts and offerings upon the

enemies of truth, expecting a time to come in this life when they

would receive the returns for what they have invested.—Ellen G.

White, Selected Messages, book 2, p. 134.

“Every family is a church, over which the parents preside. The first

consideration of the parents should be to work for the salvation of

their children. When the father and mother as priest and teacher of the

family take their position fully on the side of Christ, a good influence

will be exerted in the home. And this sanctified influence will be felt

in the church and will be recognized by every believer. Because of the

great lack of piety and sanctification in the home, the work of God is

greatly hindered. No man can bring into the church an influence that

he does not exert in his home life and in his business relations.”

—Ellen G. White,

Child Guidance, p. 549.

Discussion Questions:

● Read aloud the paragraphs put together at the end of

Thursday’s lesson. Share your thoughts after they are read.

● Have some in class share their own experiences with how fleet-

ing and untrustworthy things are in this world. What can you

learn from these accounts?

● As a class, discuss this question: As Christians, we all know

that things of this world are only temporary; and yet, why is it so

easy for us to get so caught up in them, even to the point of risk-

ing our souls? Also, talk about what the solution to that problem

is.

tor

INSIDE

Good Life From Bad

Maria Medina grew up in Chile with an abusive alcoholic father. She

had to quit school at 15 to work. The next year her mother fled her hus-

band, taking Maria with her. Maria became pregnant at 18, but instead of

marrying the baby’s father, she decided to raise the child alone. She did

not want to risk giving her child the same kind of life she had fled. She,

her new baby, her mother, and her brother shared a small apartment, man-

aging the best they could.

When she was 21, an Adventist neighbor gave her some tracts about

God and offered to study the Bible with her. Maria loved reading the

Bible. At last she realized that God loves her. She joined the Adventist

Church and was overjoyed with her new relationship with God. As she

learned of the power of forgiveness, she realized that she must forgive her

father for what he had done. She prayed a lot about it, and then she visited

her father. “Father,” she said, “I forgive you for what you have done to me

and to our family. I want to live without hate in my heart, so I forgive you.”

“How can you forgive me for all the bad things I did to you and your

mother?” he sobbed. He had lost everything the family had because of

alcohol, and he still drank. He had tried to quit and was drinking far less

than when the family lived with him.

Maria shared her new faith with her mother and brother, who are deaf.

It was difficult for them to form bonds of friendship with others, but even-

tually they accepted the Adventist faith and joined the church.

When her son Hector was seven, he developed a high fever. The doctor

found that Hector had a heart condition and feared that he would not sur-

vive. Hector needed emergency surgery to repair his heart, and Maria

asked the church members to pray throughout surgery. Soon he could live

a normal life. Maria took her son’s case to the pastor and asked the church

members to pray.

Today Hector is studying for the ministry at Chile Adventist University.

He has two brothers, and Juan, 16, also wants to become a minister.

Maria rejoices that God has brought so much good into her life, which

started out so bad. She loves to sing praises to God and share her faith with

others.

Mission offerings provide materials and evangelistic outreach to lead

people such as Maria to Christ. Thank you.

MARIA MEDINA lives in southern Chile, where she shares her faith with all who will listen.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

L ESSON

*February 17-23

God Made Man Upright?

What Happened?

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week’s Study:

Ecclesiastes 7.

Memor

y Text:

“Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made

man upright; but they have sought out many inventions”

(Ecclesiastes 7:29).

n reference to women in Paris feeding birds with pieces of bread

“a bit chewed and soggy,” the poet Rainer Rilke wrote: “It does

them good to think that their saliva is getting out into the world a

little, that the small birds will fly off with the taste of it in their

mouths, even though a moment later they naturally forget it again.”

Talk about

hebel.

What a sad example of human beings seeking for

meaning and purpose in the wrong place. As humans, we do seek for

meaning, for purpose, for direction, and sometimes in some strange

ways, too. Here we are, in this world, with so many variables, so many

options, so many paths to choose from. How do we know which ones

are right?

This week we will study Ecclesiastes 7. The first 14 verses read like

Proverbs, short pithy little sayings about morality, life, inequity, injus-

tice, wisdom, and so forth. Though not always easy to understand,

they are filled with the kind of wisdom we expect from the man whose

wisdom even Jesus referred to. The rest of the chapter sounds more

like Ecclesiastes—the older, bitter Solomon who, even in his angst,

still has plenty of wisdom to share.

This chapter

, lik

e the w

hole book, deals with more questions about

life. Taken with the Bible as a whole, Ecclesiastes 7 shows that the

right answers can be found onl

y in the God w

ho has created us,

redeemed us, and thus has gi

en us the meaning and pur

pose that so

many often seek in such useless and unsatisf

actor

y places.

*Study this week’s lesson to pr

epar

e f

or Sabbath, February 24.

SUNDAY

February 18

A Good Name

“A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of

death than the day of one’s birth” (Eccles. 7:1).

The original Hebrew here has a play on words that you can’t see in

translation. The word for “name” (shm) is very close to the word for

“ointment” or oil (shmn). It’s one of those linguistic and poetic

devices that, while maybe not full of deep and hidden meaning, gave

the original language a force and beauty that, unfortunately, is lost in

translation.

At first glance this verse, especially the last part, seems like more

of Solomon’s pessimism: better to not have been born than to live and

see all the evil done under the sun; better to have died in childbirth

than to live, and so forth. Ecclesiastes 7:1, however, seems to be say-

ing something else. The key, perhaps, is in the first part of the verse.

What’s

the basic message that Solomon is saying in the first half of

Ecclesiastes 7:1? See also Prov. 22:1; Dan. 6:5; 1 Tim. 3:2, 10.

___________________________________________________________________

This part is obvious, the value of a good reputation. What comes

next in the text easily fits in. Frenchman Jean-Paul Sartre argued that

a person’s life is basically defined by that person’s death, in the sense

that at death it’s finished. No more changes, no more potential, no

more growth. You’re nothing more than what you were when you died.

In a sense, that’s correct. Our opportunities to get a good name, to

have a good character, and to be a positive influence in this world and

for God’s kingdom are over once we die. Character is formed here, not

in the grave. Our chance for salvation is now, not after death.

Thus, in a sense, this verse is really about priorities. A good name

will last; an evil, wicked person will be here and gone, perhaps like

the fragrance of ointment. How important then that we are careful

with our time, that we prioritize our actions. What things do we do that

will have a lasting, even eternal, impact for good, in contrast to the

things that will one day be long gone and forgotten? Certainly some-

thing worth thinking about.

What are you doing with y

our o

wn time? If you had to stand

before God and give an account for the past 24 hours of your

time, how would you fare?

MONDAY

February 19

House of Feasting, House of Mourning

The Baptists have a saying: “He has just enough religion to make

himself miserable.” Everyone, probably, has seen those types. Perhaps

they were the ones Jesus referred to in Matthew 6:16, those who

walked around with “a sad countenance” in order to show everyone

just how holy they were.

Yet, a quick reading of Ecclesiastes 7:2-6 could give one the impres-

sion that this attitude is what religion should be about. It’s better to be

mourning than feasting, better to be sorrowing than laughing, and so

forth. How does all that fit in with the whole concept of joy in

the Lord, of rejoicing in Christ

(Lev. 23:40, Pss. 5:11, 149:2, Phil. 4:4,

1 Thess. 5:16)?

If you read these verses in Ecclesiastes 7 carefully, there’s a hint in

them that helps put all this in perspective.

Look

carefully at verse 2, the last few phrases.What point is Solomon

making here that helps us understand his basic message in verses

2-6?

___________________________________________________________________

In a sense, Solomon is repeating the idea touched on in yesterday’s

lesson. No matter how much feasting you do, in the end there’s always

mourning because, in the end, we all die. The wise understand this.

They understand the gravity of the human situation and that feasting

and laughter, while they have their place, need to be understood in the

larger context of life as a whole. Our lives don’t end in a feast; they

end in mourning. Our lives don’t end in laughter; they end in sadness.

Fools go along, oblivious to the end that ultimately awaits them. One

day, instead of laughter, there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Read

Luke 12:41-48. In what ways is that giving the same message

talked about above?

___________________________________________________________________

As Christians, how do we find the right balance? After all, the

great controversy is a serious thing. It is, literally, a matter of not

just life but eternal life. How do we balance this important truth

with the fact that we are to rejoice in the Lord? Or are these

ideas not contr

adictory at all? Bring y

our ans

er to class.

TUESDAY

February 20

Patience and Pride

We’ve already looked at the first six verses of Ecclesiastes 7. Today

we’ll finish this first section, which is composed of short proverblike

sayings.

Read

Ecclesiastes 7:7-14. What points is Solomon making? Which

ones speak clearest to you, personally; that is, which touch you in

a sensitive area?

___________________________________________________________________

There’s a lot of wisdom to choose from packed in here. Verse 7, for

instance, about a bribe corrupting the heart, touches on a key spir-

itual point: One compromise leads to another. It’s saying not that a

corrupt heart takes a bribe but that a bribe corrupts the heart. What

a powerful warning to us all about what sin does to the soul.

Look

at verse 9. What point is being made there? What do these other

texts add to that message? Matt. 5:22; 18:21, 22; Rom. 12:19-21.

___________________________________________________________________

Look

at verse 12. How is wisdom a protection? How does wisdom

preserve life? See also Prov. 1:7, 9:10, Col. 1:28, James 3:13-18.

___________________________________________________________________

How

do you understand the meaning of verse 14? See Phil. 4:11-13.

___________________________________________________________________

How well are you doing in these areas? What things need to be

changed in your life? Anger, compromise, lack of trust? How

crucial to get on your knees before the Lord and seek the things

He freely offers through Jesus.

WEDNESDAY

February 21

Our Fallen Natures—Part One

Read

Ecclesiastes 7:15-21. Which of the verses below best describe

the basic message in there?

(a) 1 Cor. 13:13 (b) Gal. 6:2 (c) Rom. 3:10

Solomon here paints a fairly negative picture of humanity. Though

one could be tempted just to chalk it up to more of his basic pes-

simism, it’s not so simple.

At the beginning of the Enlightenment, in seventeenth-century

Europe, humans began bursting at the seams with new knowledge.

Amid this new understanding of the world was the great hope in

human perfection. Sure, the world has been bad, and people have been

bad, but now that we are gaining new knowledge and a greater under-

standing of the world, ignorance will be defeated, and humanity will

improve and move steadily toward the path of moral perfection.

Things so progressed that by the beginning of the twentieth century

people believed that through the discoveries of science and through

new technology humanity would soon learn to conquer all the things

that had caused it so much trouble. We would, through our machines,

devices, and inventions, overcome disease, overcome natural calami-

ties, overcome hatred and war.

Think

about events over the past century. How well did science ful-

fill the grand hopes that people had for it? See also Matthew 24.

__________________________________________________________________

Things didn’t turn out quite as expected, did they? Though we

gained new knowledge, our sinful human natures got the best of us,

and so much of that knowledge and new power gained has been a

source of evil and suffering. Power and knowledge in and of them-

selves aren’t necessarily good or bad. It’s what people do with them.

The ruler of a powerful country has a lot of power. He can use that

power to build houses or bomb them. What we need isn’t so much new

knowledge or power but hearts molded in the image and character of

God; otherwise, knowledge and power can be used for evil.

All of us, to one degree or another, have some knowledge and

some power. How are you using it? For good, for God’s glory?

Or are you exploiting it for less-than-honorable purposes? Be

honest with y

our

self

no matter ho

w painful.

THURSDAY

February 22

Our Fallen Natures—Part Two

In Ecclesiastes 7:15-27, Solomon utters a litany of human woe.

Read

verse 15. What is Solomon complaining about here? How valid

is this complaint?

___________________________________________________________________

This

verse, however, isn’t the first time he has talked about this. What

does he say in Ecclesiastes 3:16, 17 that helps us understand what

is going on here?

___________________________________________________________________

Perhaps most striking are his words in Ecclesiastes 7:20, which

sound very close to Paul in Romans 3:10 (“There is none righteous,

no, not one”) or John in 1 John 1:10 (“If we say that we have not

sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”). Though

Christians are often derided for their “pessimistic” and “negative”

views of humanity, all one has to do is look at the world, both its his-

tory and its present condition, to get verification for its teaching about

the sinful state of humanity

. You might need faith to believe in a lot of

what Christianity teaches, but the fallen nature of humanity isn’t one.

Read

verse 26. What in Solomon’s background would have caused

him to say this? 1 Kings 11:1-4.

___________________________________________________________________

Though Solomon is obviously pointing to certain kind of women

(compare with Prov. 18:22), the important message goes far beyond

gender: Be careful of anyone whom the devil can use to ensnare you

and turn you away from the Lord.

Perhaps the most striking verse in this chapter is the last one, verse

29. How quickly it captures the human condition. God made us holy,

and we have become unholy. Solomon’s life, in a sense, could be used

as an example of this principle. Sure, he was never sinless, but he

started out on the right track. The Hebrew word translated “upright” is

a common word for “straight” or “right” and is often used to describe

human actions

(Deut. 6:18; 1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 18:3; Job 1:1, 8).

However “upright” he was at the start, he eventually wandered away.

Read 2 Corinthians 13:5. Are you in the faith? How do you jus-

tify your answer?

FRIDAY

February 23

Further Study:

Ellen G. White, Child Guidance, p. 166;

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 606; Testimonies for the Church,

vol. 8, p. 86; see also Mind, Character, and Personality.

“True education does not ignore the value of scientific knowledge or

literary acquirements; but above information it values power; above

power, goodness; above intellectual acquirements, character. The world

does not so much need men of great intellect as of noble character. It

needs men in whom ability is controlled by steadfast principle.

“ ‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.’ ‘The

tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright’ (Proverbs 4:7; 15:2). True

education imparts this wisdom. It teaches the best use not only of one

but of all our powers and acquirements. Thus it covers the whole cir-

cle of obligation—to ourselves, to the world, and to God.

“Character building is the most important work ever entrusted to

human beings; and never before was its diligent study so important

as now. Never was any previous generation called to meet issues so

momentous; never before were young men and young women con-

fronted by perils so great as confront them today.”—Ellen G. White,

Education, p. 225.

Discussion Questions:

● As a class, go over your answers for Monday’s study.

● Talk about the Ellen G. White quote above. Notice specifically

the first paragraph. How does it fit in with some of the things

that we have studied this week? Why does character matter, espe-

cially among those who have a lot of power?

● The lesson touched upon the question of influence and how

the wives of Solomon led him astray. The question of influence

and peer pressure is especially crucial for young people, many of

whom have been seriously led astray by wrong friends. As a

church, what can you do to help your young people avoid the

wrong influences? What things can your church do to provide

them with better alternatives?

● As a class, read aloud the Rilke quote from Sabbath after-

noon. What does it say to you about the human need for meaning

and purpose? How does our faith answer these needs? Also, how

can we better share what we have been given with those who seek

meaning in the most meaningless of things?

tor

INSIDE

Never Alone: Part 1

by SELINA MWAKIPUNDA

Saturday morning I walked into the dean’s office at the government

school I attended in Tanzania. I signed my name in a book on the desk, and

the monitor noted the time beside my name. I walked out of the building

and through the school gate. I knew I would be punished for leaving cam-

pus, but I had to go to church, no matter what awaited me when I returned.

I heard singing and sprinted to the Adventist church. I slipped into a pew

and sang along. My heart filled with joy.

Earlier that year I had met some Adventist girls in the dormitory at

school. Their lives radiated peace and love, and I wanted to know what

made them so different from me. They offered to study the Bible with me

so I could learn how to live closer to God. I was raised in a Christian

home, and I welcomed the Bible studies. When I learned about the

Sabbath, God’s wonderful gift of time to His children, I was amazed that

I had never heard of this before. It made so much sense to me.

I told my parents what I had learned about the Sabbath, expecting them

to share my joy. But my father thought that Adventists were a sect, and he

ordered me to stay away from them. He told the dean at school not to let

me leave the campus on Saturday, hoping it would end my association with

Adventists.

But I had found something beautiful, and I was not ready to give it up.

The dean ordered me to sign her book every three hours on Saturday to be

sure I did not go to church. She threatened me and gave me extra work to

try to force me to obey my father’s wishes. But I had found something I

could not let go, and when I missed the twelve o’clock sign-in, the dean

demanded to know where I had been. It never occurred to me to lie, so I

told her I had been in church.

The dean gave me some garden tools and

ordered me to go work in the school’s large

garden. I took the tools and told her I would

work in the garden on Sunday, for I did not

want to break the Sabbath. Her look told me I

was in trouble.

(Continued next week)

SELINA MWAKIPUNDA (left) is a secretary at the University

of Arusha (formerly Tanzania Adventist College).

Produced by the General Conf

erence Office of Ad

ventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

L ESSON

*February 24–March 2

Seeing Through a Glass

Darkly

SABBA

AFTERNOON

Read for This Week’s Study:

Ecclesiastes 8.

Memory Text:

“Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and

his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with

them that fear God, which fear before him”

(Ecclesiastes 8:12).

n Ecclesiastes 8 Solomon continues exploring many of the themes

he touched on earlier. Again, it would be easy to get caught up in

all the pessimism and complaints. But then again, life “under the

sun” is something easy to be pessimistic about, is it not?

Nevertheless, as in most of these chapters, powerful gems of deep

spiritual truth can be found amid all the more difficult rhetoric. No

doubt that’s another reason God had this book included in the Bible.

Look, for instance, at the memory text. What a promise, what a

hope, is contained in there, a hope that must extend to something

beyond this life. Indeed, amid all the negativity, Solomon shows a

keen understanding of final justice and judgment, that regardless of

how bad things on earth are now—as we are in the midst of the great

controversy

(Rev. 12:12)—God’s final justice will be executed. That’s

one thing we can be certain of, even if we just have to wait. Maybe

that’s why the saints are said to, among other things, have “patience”

(Rev. 13:10, 14:12).

This week we continue to explore more of the foibles, fears, and

hopes of fallen humanity, all given from the unique perspective of

King Solomon.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 3.

SUNDAY

February 25

Keep the King’s Commandment!

As Christians we constantly are faced with the tension that comes

from living in this world while accepting the reality that we already

belong to another kingdom. Augustine called it the distinction

between the City of God and the city of man.

Read

Hebrews 11:13-16. How do these verses reveal the reality of the

two lands between which we are pulled back and forth?

___________________________________________________________________

One source of potential tension Christians face deals, of course,

with how we relate to the government under which we live. We all live

under a government that holds the reins of power, that makes and

enforces the rules and laws of our particular country. The Bible, time

and again, makes it plain that Christians are to follow the laws; that is,

they are to be good citizens.

Read

Ecclesiastes 8:1-5. What is Solomon saying here? How do his

words here fit with these texts: Rom. 13:1-4, Titus 3:1, 1 Pet. 2:13-

17?

___________________________________________________________________

It’s not all that surprising that Solomon would be saying this; after

all, he is the king. However, the words do bring out an important prin-

ciple of Christian citizenship. Regardless of where we live, we are

obligated to obey the law of the land, even if there are laws we might

not, personally, like. Notice the use of the word

personally. There’s a

world of difference between obeying laws we might not personally

like and obeying laws that are in violation of God’s commandments,

laws that directly contradict the basic principles of how God has told

us we should live (see tomorrow’s lesson). The crucial point, however,

is that as people called to a standard of morality higher than the

world’s, we should be seeking to “keep the king’s commandment.”

What would happen were everyone simply to decide that they

would obey only laws that they, personally, like? Why is this not

a valid option? Why should we, as Seventh-day Adventist

Christians, be par

ticular

y sensiti

e to the importance of law?

MONDAY

February 26

Keep the King’s Commandment?

Keep the king’s commandment? Like Shadrach, Meshach, and

Abednego (Daniel 3) or like Daniel (Daniel 6)?

As we said yesterday, it’s not always easy living in one land while

your heart, ideally, is in another (Matt. 6:20, 21). What’s a good

Christian citizen to do?

What

other examples can you think of from the Bible in which God’s

people were forced to disobey those in political power?

___________________________________________________________________

The Bible is filled with examples of people who have faced perse-

cution, threats, jail, and death as a result of being in conflict with

earthly rulers. What makes this even more complicated is that many of

these earthly rulers were leaders of God’s chosen nation.

Meanwhile, as students of the book of Revelation, we know, too, that

right at the end of time God’s people are going to have to disobey the

laws of earthly leaders in order to be faithful to God (Rev. 13:12-16;

14). Thus, we see that we are to obey the king’s commandment, just as

long as it doesn’t conflict with the King’s commandment (John 19:19).

Such actions, though, are very serious matters and shouldn’t be

undertaken lightly. One, instead, should move only after counsel with

others who are wise in the ways of the Lord and, of course, only after

seeking the guidance of the Lord, who speaks to us through His Word.

“The laws of the land at all levels may at times conflict with some

of God’s commandments. While magistrates bear responsibility for

the law, each citizen is accountable to God for the choices he or she

makes. In such cases Christians will explain their convictions and

appeal to freedom of conscience, which is a God-given right on the

basis of creation in His image. If the appeals are rejected, faithfulness

to God first may result in fines, persecution, prison sentences, or other

sacrifices that Christians in centuries past had to make.”—

Handbook

of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, vol. 12, p. 701.

If you knew someone about to challenge the legal authorities

over an issue regarding what that person believed was a biblical

imperative, what advice and counsel would you give? What

principles would you look for to help guide this person in doing

the right thing?

TUESDAY

February 27

Trust Amid Uncertainty

Solomon then shifts to another train of thought. If you read the last

part of verse 5 (“and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judg-

ment”) and then go through to verse 9, you will see that (however dif-

ficult the texts) he’s talking about the uncertainties of life, that there

are things that happen that we just don’t understand. No matter how

wise a person is or however much his or her heart can discern “time

and judgment,” there are things we just can’t make sense of, things

that even the wisest among us can’t fathom.

The good news, however, is that as Christians we can trust God even

when things unfold that make no sense. This trust, though, doesn’t

happen automatically; we just don’t wake up after a life of faithless-

ness and suddenly start trusting God. Instead, we learn to trust God by

reading His Word, claiming His promises, and living by faith and obe-

dience. If we do these things with a will surrendered to Him, we will

learn to trust Him no matter what we face.

Below

are texts that deal with faith and trust in God.After each text,

write down what it means to you personally, how you have experi-

enced the reality of the promise. Also, if there are some texts we’ve

missed that have been special to you, write them down and what

they have meant. Bring your answers to class on Sabbath.

Ps. 118:8, 9

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Ps. 34:8

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Prov. 3:5, 6

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Isa. 12:2

___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Rom. 8:28

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

James 2:22

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

WEDNESDAY

February 28

Trust and Justice

Read

Ecclesiastes 8:11-13. What point is Solomon making?

vs. 11

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

vs. 12

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

vs. 13

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Solomon is, again, dealing with the painful question of injustice in

this life

(see also vs. 14). He notices that, indeed, the wicked often

seem to get away with their deeds, with no immediate punishment.

Though at times we do see the wicked suffering from the wages of

their deeds, they don’t always. That it happens sometimes is fine, but

that it doesn’t always happen leads to the question of Why not? Why

is there no justice here?

Solomon doesn’t have the answer; what he does have, however, is a

powerful admonition: Don’t worry about the evildoer; just be faithful

to God, and He will reward you.

In a certain sense here, Solomon is calling us to live a life of faith,

of trust. Sure, there is injustice; we all know that. And, certainly, God

does. The Lord, though, hasn’t given us here an explanation about all

these things. Instead, He has called us to live a life of faith and obedi-

ence, trusting on the merits of Jesus Christ as our hope of salvation.

These are the truths He has revealed to us now

(John 14:9; Gal. 3:21,

22; Heb. 1:1, 2; 1 John 5:3), not the reasons for so many bad things

that happen “under the sun.”

The point of today, as with yesterday’s lesson, should be that we

need to trust not in what we can see or understand but in the promises

of God, who has revealed Himself and His love to us through Jesus,

especially Jesus crucified.

Are you troubled by the injustice you see in this world? Think

about the injustice of the Cross, the greatest injustice ever. How

should this great truth of Christ as the victim of injustice, all for

our salvation, help you trust in the goodness of God despite all

the injustice around you?

THURSDAY

March 1

The Business That Is Done on Earth

Read

Ecclesiastes 8:16, 17. What point is Solomon making? How

does this fit in with what came before in the chapter? Why is this

point so important?

___________________________________________________________________

In the past years there has been an explosion of knowledge. We

know more about our world than ever before. Every day new discov-

eries are made in all areas, especially in science. And yet, the more we

learn, the more we realize our ignorance. The “simplest” things turn

out to be so full of mysteries that we can’t begin to explain. No mat-

ter what level we get at, there’s always something underneath it, some-

thing out of our reach. The work and power of God in nature alone is

something that we only barely grasp. And, of course, the greatest of all

God’s work, the plan of salvation, is itself deemed a “mystery” (1 Cor.

2:7, Eph. 3:9, Col. 2:2).

Perhaps one of the best insights into how we are to deal with things

we don’t understand comes from the book of Job. Though terrible

calamities befell Job, when God appears to Job at the end of the book,

He doesn’t give Job any explanation for the events that ruined his life.

Skim

over Job 38–42.What is the essence of God’s reply to Job regard-

ing the trials that Job faced?

You probably noticed that the Lord said nothing about Satan’s taunt

(Job 1:9) or about God’s reply to Satan (Job 2:6); indeed, He gave no

explanation for anything that happened to Job. Instead, the Lord

unleashed a flow of rhetorical questions about His own might and cre-

ative power in contrast to Job’s transience and weakness. For Job, that

vision of God was enough to convince him that his bemoaning about

his dead children, ruined health, and destroyed property was all sim-

ply him uttering “things too wonderful for me, which I knew not” (Job

42:3).

Job, with his glimpse of God as Cr

eator

as silenced; what

about us, we who have a view of God not only as Creator but as

Redeemer? How should the revelation of God at the Cross teach

us that we can trust the Lor

d even in the worst situations?

FRIDAY

March 2

Further Study:

Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 203–205;

The Desire of Ages, pp. 602, 603; Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5,

p. 699; vol. 6, p. 203.

“We are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine

appointment, and teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within its

legitimate sphere. But when its claims conflict with the claims of God,

we must obey God rather than men. God’s Word must be recognized

as above all human legislation. A ‘Thus saith the Lord’ is not to be set

aside for a ‘Thus saith the church’ or a ‘Thus saith the state.’ The

crown of Christ is to be lifted above the diadems of earthly poten-

tates.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 68.

“No finite mind can fully comprehend the character or the works of

the Infinite One. We cannot by searching find out God. To minds the

strongest and most highly cultured, as well as to the weakest and most

ignorant, that holy Being must remain clothed in mystery. But though

‘clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judg-

ment are the foundation of his throne.’ Psalm 97:2, R.V. We can so far

comprehend His dealing with us as to discern boundless mercy united

to infinite power. We can understand as much of His purposes as we

are capable of comprehending; beyond this we may still trust the hand

that is omnipotent, the heart that is full of love.”—Ellen G. White,

Education, p. 169.

Discussion Questions:

● “There is, it seems to us,

At best, only a limited value

In the knowledge derived from experience.”

—T. S. Eliot, “East Coker”

Look at this quote from T. S. Eliot. Think of it in the context of

the last two verses of Ecclesiastes 8, about the futility of trying to

find out the ways of God by seeking them or by laboring. What

does this tell us about the limits of what we can learn about God,

apart from the truths He has revealed to us through divine inspi-

ration?

● As a class, go over your responses to Tuesday’s lesson. What

can you learn from one another’s answers?

tor

INSIDE

Never Alone: Part 2

by SELINA MWAKIPUNDA

My father told me that if I insisted on disobeying him, my education

was over. I begged him to let me return to school. The school dean encour-

aged my father to let me stay in school and promised to watch me more

carefully. Finally my father allowed me to return to school.

I signed the dean’s book every Saturday and slipped out to church, sat-

isfied to work in the garden on Sunday so I could worship on Sabbath.

Eventually the dean realized that she could not change my mind. She

stopped making me sign her book or work in the garden.

But when my father learned of my disobedience, he told me I did not

have to come home during vacation. “Since you love to be with

Adventists, go live with them,” he said. He hoped that I would give up this

“foolishness,” as he called it. But church members let me stay in their

homes and even provided money for basic needs, such as soap.

I stayed at school until graduation. I was baptized, and I had my church

friends but lived without my parents’ support. While in college I met a

young pastor. I tried to take him to meet my family, but my father refused

to allow us on his property. We married and made a happy home. A year

later our first child arrived, and the next year I became pregnant with our

second. Then my husband suddenly died of a heart attack. I was 24 and a

widow with a baby and another on the way.

My family refused to help me, and my husband’s family blamed me for

my husband’s death. They took everything we owned—our furniture, even

our clothes. I had nothing, no one to support me, and nowhere to go.

A missionary family took us into their home and helped pay my tuition

and living expenses while I took a secretarial course. When I finished

school I found work so I could support my daughters.

Life has not been easy, but God has never left me. No matter how diffi-

cult things have become, He has always been there for me. He means

everything to me.

Mission offerings helped lead me to Jesus and support the schools that

educated me. Thank God for the privilege of sharing.

SELINA MWAKIPUNDA is a secr

etary at the Univer

sity of

Arusha (f

ormer

y Tanzania

Adventist College).

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

L ESSON

*March 3-9

“Whatever Your Hand

Finds to Do

”

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week’s Study:

Ecclesiastes 9.

Memory Text:

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all

your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither

working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom” (Ecclesiastes

9:10, NIV).

n 2004, a 70-year-old Italian man died. Though 70-year-old Italians

dying isn’t anything out of the ordinary, how he died was. Aldo

Busato, a retired farmer, was killed instantly by a World War I

bomb, part of his collection of military memorabilia. He was in his

garden, showing the relic to some friends, when the ordnance

exploded, killing him and seriously injuring the person he was show-

ing the bomb to.

How do we make sense of things like this, crazy things that just defy

rational explanation? The fact is, as we saw last week, we just can’t.

What we have to do is simply learn to trust in the goodness of God,

despite what’s for now inexplicable.

Solomon, again, touches on this theme (and others) in the chapter

for this week. His focus here, though, is on death, a theme that has

appeared in other places in Ecclesiastes. As we read, remember that

Solomon at times is expressing views from a “secular” perspective, a

perspective that should help us understand the futility and meaning-

lessness of our existence if there is no God who promises us justice,

answers, and eternal life. At the same time, though focusing on death,

he is also talking to us about life and how we should be living now.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 10.

SUNDAY

March 4

In God’s Hands

“So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and

the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no man knows

whether love or hate awaits him”

(Eccles. 9:1, NIV).

Verse 1 of chapter 9 continues the flow from the last verse of chap-

ter 8. If you remember, Solomon was talking about our inability to

understand God’s ways. Though he ends with that thought, chapter 9

opens up with the above line, which, taken with what preceded it,

could be expressed like this: We surely don’t understand God’s ways,

but we can know that the Lord looks after those who are faithful to

Him, regardless of whatever they face.

How

fair an assessment do you think this conclusion is? And, even if

you agree, what does it mean to say that the faithful are “in God’s

hands”?

___________________________________________________________________

To say, however, that we are in God’s hands doesn’t, of course, mean

that we will never have pain, suffering, or tragedy in this life. The

most faithful of all Christians can never be sure of what will await

them “under the sun.” That’s perhaps what Solomon meant by the last

phrase of verse 1: Sure, we might be in God’s hands, but that doesn’t

mean we won’t face suffering. The difference, however, is that as

Christians we can trust in the goodness and mercy of God in spite of

these tragedies. Imagine going through the things we so often go

through without the belief that there’s a loving, caring God who prom-

ises to one day “ ‘wipe away every tear from their eyes’ ”

(Rev. 7:17,

NIV).

Put yourself in the place of some faithful Bible character who

was amid a great trial and, yet, who was certainly still in God’s

hands. How about Joseph or John the Baptist, when they were

in jail? How about Job, sitting on his refuse heap, just about

everything but his life gone? Or maybe Daniel thrown into the

lions’ den? Whichever one you pick, try to imagine how easy it

would be for that per

son,

in the midst of their trial,

to doubt or

question the Lord’s love and care. What lessons can you learn

that could perhaps help you in whatever situation you are fac-

ing now, when you, too, are tempted to doubt?

MONDAY

March 5

One Fate?

Ecclessiastes 9:2 is a prime example of how important it is to read

Ecclesiastes in the context of the whole Bible; here, too, is a good

place to repeat the admonition given in The SDA Bible Commentary,

vol. 3, p. 1060, that “passages such as these should not be wrested

from their context and made to teach some supposed truth that

Inspiration never intended them to teach”.

At the same time, Solomon’s point, if understood in the proper con-

text, is well taken. Death is stronger than nature, at least nature as we

now know it. One could argue that death is part of nature itself; any-

thing that lives dies. And as we all know too well, it makes no differ-

ence if you are righteous or not. Death always wins out.

Yet to say that one fate awaits everyone (and that is death) regard-

less of how we live is like saying that one fate awaits everyone who

drinks (and that is swallowing) regardless of whether we drink water

or arsenic. If we take only the short view of things, death is indeed the

common fate of all. The short view, however, is just that, the short

view; it’s like listening to the first few notes in Beethoven’s Ninth

Symphony and mistaking them for the whole symphony. The Bible, as

a whole, gives us the long view.

Look

up the following texts: What is the ultimate fate of humanity?

Dan. 12:2, Matt. 25:32-41, John 3:16, John 5:29, Rev. 20:6-15.

__________________________________________________________________

No question, the Bible is clear that there is not one fate common to

all; there is one of two fates: either eternal life or eternal destruction.

No middle ground here; no compromise. Either we will live forever,

or we will be dead forever.

The goods news is that through Jesus, every human being has the

opportunity to live forever. Christ died as the Substitute for all human-

ity, with no one left out. His provision was more than enough for

everyone. In the end, which of the two fates is ours is, really, our own

choice.

Think about your choices, not just the big ones, but the day-to-

day “little” ones. By these choices, what fate are you, ultimately,

choosing?

TUESDAY

March 6

The Dead

Here let me die: for to give birth to those

Who can but suffer many years and die,

Methinks, is merely propagating death,

And multiplying murder.

—Lord Byron

“Once a man has realized,” wrote Russian Leo Tolstoy, “that death

is the end of everything, there is nothing worse than life either.”

However negative his words, Tolstoy does have a good point. It’s

kind of hard, isn’t it, going through life knowing that it ends in death

and that death is the end of everything?

Read

Ecclesiastes 9:3-6 and think about it from the perspective of

someone who doesn’t believe in God or in any afterlife at all. Try

to put yourself in the mind of someone who believes that death is

the end of everything. What kind of purpose can you find to life?

What sense can you make of all the things you do, knowing that

you, as well as all your children and all their children, might die

before Jesus comes?

___________________________________________________________________

Now,

however, read the same texts from our perspective as Seventh-

day Adventist Christians, with our belief that death is merely a

sleep and that through what Christ has done for us, when He

returns—which seems to the dead to be only in a “twinkling of an

eye” after they die—we will be raised to eternal life in a new

heaven and a new earth. How different is the message you get from

looking at them from this perspective in contrast to the one above?

___________________________________________________________________

We should be so thankful for what Christ has offered us through

His death and r

esurr

ection.

ithout it,

e w

ould face the kind of

hopelessness expressed in the texts for today. How precious our

faith should be to all of us; how crucial that we guard and pro-

tect it as if our li

es w

ere at stake. Indeed, they are.

WEDNESDAY

March 7

Now Is the Day of Salvation

As Adventists, we love to use Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6 in support of our

position on the state of the dead. And rightly so, for the dead indeed

“do not know anything” and indeed “they will no longer have a share

in all that is done under the sun” (NASB); at least, that is, not until

Jesus comes back. Solomon’s point here, however, wasn’t so much to

make a theological statement about the state of the dead as it was to

make a statement about life. Though these texts are talking about

death, they do so in the context of life and how life should be lived.

Read

Ecclesiastes 9:5-10. What is the point about life that Solomon

is making? How is he telling us to live? How can we apply this

basic idea to our lives here as Christians?

___________________________________________________________________

We should be so thankful for what Christ has offered us. Our life

here is the only one we are given, at least in this world. And although

this life is transient

(Job 8:9), and though one day this earth and

all that’s in it will be gone

(2 Pet. 3:10-12), it’s fraught with eternal

consequences now because how we live here utterly determines

our fate for eternity. That’s right: Decisions here, in our short lives,

decisions that can take only seconds, can decide our fate for eternity.

How crucial it is then that we take our time of probation seriously; that

we live a life of vigilance and care for our souls. With such conse-

quential things at stake, how foolish it would be to live any other way.

Look

up the following texts. How do they reinforce the idea expressed

in the above paragraph?

Mark 14:38

_____________________________________________________________________

Rom. 14:12

_____________________________________________________________________

2 Cor. 6:2

_____________________________________________________________________

2 Pet. 3:10-14

_____________________________________________________________________

However important the decisions we make, the most important

one of all is the one for Christ, the one in which responding to

the Holy Spirit,

e choose to die to self and li

e for Him. Have

you made that decision yet? Just going to church, or even believ-

ing in Jesus, isn’t making that decision, the one that—more than

any other—will decide how you’ll spend eternity.

THURSDAY

March 8

Time and Chance

We’ve all heard or seen or even experienced for ourselves great

injustice, and not necessarily at the hands of others. Sometimes “time

and chance” just seem to work in a way that’s so unfair, so unjust, so

uncaring.

A young woman in the prime of life is struck down with a debili-

tating disease; a man is laid off from work because of economic con-

ditions; a star athlete slips and falls on some stairs, and a career is

ruined. The list goes on and on.

Read

Ecclesiastes 9:11-18. What is Solomon’s overall point? Do you

agree or not? If not, why not?

___________________________________________________________________

Again, from a human standpoint, it can seem that “time and chance”

rule over all our lives. But that’s not the Bible position, which teaches

that there is a God who not only sees all things (Ps. 11:4, Prov. 5:21)

but is intricately involved in human affairs (Prov. 16:9, Dan. 2:21,

Matt. 6:25-31), no matter how difficult it is at times to see it. The cru-

cial thing for us, as Christians, is to come to a personal knowledge of

God, a knowledge of Him and His love that enables us to cling to Him

in faith and obedience when it seems that, indeed, “time and chance”

are treating us cruelly.

Look

specifically at Ecclesiastes 9:13-16. What point is touched on

there?

___________________________________________________________________

There are probably a number of ways to look at these verses, but

given the context, we could say that Solomon is talking about more

injustice, about someone who does something worthy but, for whatever

reason (in this case because of poverty), that person’s contribution is

not acknowledged, or even is forgotten about. Again, from a human

perspective that’s all true; fortunately, a human perspective isn’t the

most important one. God’

s perspective is, and He not only won’t forget

but will also reward

(Luke 6:35, Col. 3:24, Heb. 10:36, Rev. 22:12).

What do you say to someone to whom “time and chance” have

dealt a cruel b

w? Ho

w can y

ou assur

e them of God’

s lo

ve and

care amid their sufferings?

FRIDAY

March 9

Further Study:

Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2,

p. 191; vol. 3, p. 453; vol. 4, pp. 306, 307; Fundamentals of Christian

Education, p. 245; The Great Controversy, p. 662; Selected Messages,

book 1, p. 91.

“Christ desires His hearers to understand that it is impossible for

men to secure the salvation of the soul after death. ‘Son,’ Abraham is

represented as answering, ‘remember that thou in thy lifetime

receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now

he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between

us and you there is a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass

from hence to you can not; neither can they pass to us, that would

come from thence.’ Thus Christ represented the hopelessness of look-

ing for a second probation. This life is the only time given to man in

which to prepare for eternity.”—Ellen G. White,

Christ’s Object

Lessons,

p. 263.

“In every age there is given to men their day of light and privilege,

a probationary time in which they may become reconciled to God. But

there is a limit to this grace. Mercy may plead for years and be

slighted and rejected; but there comes a time when mercy makes her

last plea. The heart becomes so hardened that it ceases to respond to

the Spirit of God. Then the sweet, winning voice entreats the sinner no

longer, and reproofs and warnings cease.”—Ellen G. White,

The

Desire of Ages, p. 587.

Discussion Questions:

● As a class, do you know someone whom “time and chance”

have really hurt? What can you, as a group, do to show that per-

son the reality of God’s love, even during times of crises?

● What are ways that you can help those in your church who

haven’t yet made a choice to surrender to the Lord? How can you

help them see the importance of not delaying this crucial decision?

● Have people talk about a specific instance in which they saw

clearly the closeness and nearness of God in their lives. What can

you learn from each other’s experiences?

● As a class, discuss the idea, expressed in the Ellen G. White

quote above, about the need to “prepare for eternity.” What do you

think she means by that? How are we to “prepare for eternity”?

tor

INSIDE

God and the Fisherman

by A. B. ARLOO

The Afram Plain lies in eastern Ghana, within the 10/40 Window.

Because of the difficult terrain, only 14 of the 126 villages that dot the

plain had heard the Adventist message, and only 133 members lived

among the 1.6 million people. The area was designated a Global Mission

focus area for evangelism, and 135 Global Mission workers braved the

harsh climate, almost impassible roads, and treacherous rivers to bring the

gospel to the people. And God went before the lay evangelists and pre-

pared the ground for sowing the seed.

Maxwell Vitashi is a fisherman who makes his living on a fast-flowing

river that slides along the edge of the plain. One day Maxwell paddled his

canoe upstream for miles searching for good fishing. Suddenly, his boat

capsized, dumping him into the middle of the river. Desperately he swam

against the swift current toward the distant shore. But he was no match for

the powerful river, and soon he was too tired to go on. He knew he would

die.

Maxwell was not a Christian, but in his need he prayed to the great God

of the heavens to save him. He had hardly finished his prayer when unseen

hands picked him up and tossed him into a spot where the stumps of two

trees stood. He grabbed hold of the stumps to catch his breath. But how

had he gotten there? He could see no human anywhere near him.

As his hands became numb, he wondered how long he could hold on.

Again he prayed, and from nowhere two men in a canoe paddled toward

him. They lifted him into their boat and carried him to shore near his vil-

lage. The men laid him gently on the beach. Dazed, it was several minutes

before Maxwell thought to thank his rescuers. But they had disappeared.

Who were those men? he wondered. He had lived in this village all his life,

but he had never seen them before.

Maxwell told his neighbors of his miraculous rescue, which he attrib-

uted to the great God who had heard his prayers.

A few days later, the Global Mission evangelists visited his village.

Maxwell welcomed them and listened eagerly to their testimonies. When

they held public meetings, Maxwell was the first in his village to ask for

baptism.

Maxwell is one of many who found God and His truth through Global

Mission pioneers. Your Mission offerings help make possible programs

such as Global Mission outreach.

PASTOR A. B. ARLOO is Global Mission/Sa

bbath Sc

hool director for the East Ghana

Conference in Koforidua, Ghana.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

L ESSON

*March 10-16

Dead Flies and Snake

Charmers: More

Life

Under

the Sun

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week’s Study:

Ecclesiastes 10.

Memory Text:

“Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment,

and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one

respected for wisdom and honor” (Ecclesiastes 10:1, NKJV).

y this time, as far as we are in Ecclesiastes, it should be clear

that it’s difficult to find a unified flow of thought. That doesn’t

mean there aren’t unified thoughts; it’s just not easy to find

the flow of those thoughts; that is, it doesn’t progress from one

thought to another and to another in any kind of systematic flow. At

least, it doesn’t seem to.

Nevertheless, important ideas and thoughts are there, all well worth

our study, especially when studied in comparison with the rest of the

Bible.

This week’s lesson also could have been titled “Thoughts, Words,

Actions,” for it deals with all three. Solomon talks about our thoughts,

he talks about our words, and he talks about our actions, though not

exactly in that order. Of course, in one sense, if you cover thoughts,

words, and actions, there’

s isn’

t much left, is there?

With his powerful poetic style, Solomon gives us more to ponder.

Though we have to work our way through the thoughts of this chap-

ter, when we do we can see that there’s a lot of meat here, a lot of prac-

tical wisdom that w

ould do us all w

ell to heed carefull

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 17.

SUNDAY

March 11

Dead Flies

Ecclesiastes 10:1 really needs to be read along with Ecclesiastes

9:18, at least the last clause. Though not saying exactly the same thing,

Ecclesiastes 9:18 helps clarify the principle found in 10:1, which is—

no matter how much good one does, a stupid mistake can so spoil it all.

Last week we talked a little about how in this life we have to make

the choices that will, in the end, determine our eternal destiny. But

many times our choices also have much more immediate conse-

quences. How often someone can, in a weak and unguarded moment,

make a choice that brings sudden and painful consequences. What

makes these events even more tragic is that so often those who make

those wrong choices can be “good” people, faithful and honorable

souls who, as we all do, slip and fall. In one sense the more honorable,

exalted, and esteemed the person is, the more responsibility upon that

person to weigh his or her decisions carefully.

Below

are a few biblical examples of good folk making bad choices.

What caused these people to stumble, and what were the results of

their folly?

Gen. 3:6

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Exod. 32:1-4

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2 Sam. 11:1-4

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

A man works many years for the Lord only to, in a weak moment,

make a mistake, perhaps a moral fall, and then—suddenly—his min-

istry is, if not ruined, then certainly damaged. Whether right or not,

this harsh consequence is a reality, one that should cause us all,

regardless of our position, to walk carefully and circumspectly. In all

the biblical accounts listed above, the Lord obviously forgave these

people; how much more so should we, then, forgive those who have

violated a sacred trust. But forgiveness doesn’t automatically mean

that the damage is undone; most times it isn’t. How easily a few dead

flies can stink up a whole jar of scented oil!

Whoever you ar

hatever your position in the church, think

about the negative consequences that could occur if you were to

violate a trust. Watch and pray before you act!

MONDAY

March 12

The Fool’s Heart

Ecclesiastes 10:2 is, obviously, poetic language depicting the dif-

ference between the heart (mind) of a wise person and of a foolish

one. The imagery of left and right hand is found in various places in

the Bible, with the right side considered the side of honor, power, and

favor. After all, Jesus Himself talks about, when He returns, sitting

“on the right hand of power”

(Matt. 26:64; see also Matt. 25:31-34,

Acts 7:55). In contrast, the left side was considered the side of evil and

misfortune. In fact, the Latin word for left hand, sinistra, forms the

basis for the English word sinister. Even today in some countries chil-

dren who show a proclivity toward writing with their left hand are

made to use their right instead.

Keeping

these points in mind, what is Solomon saying in Ecclesiastes

10:2?

___________________________________________________________________

Because the heart was considered the center of all thoughts, emo-

tions, and plans

(Gen. 6:5, Exod. 25:2, 1 Sam. 16:7), Solomon’s point

is simply that the wise person guards the thoughts, the feelings, and

the motives, while the foolish person doesn’t. This verse shows how

important it is that we keep control over what goes on inside us,

because what’s inside sooner or later becomes manifest on the outside.

How

does Ecclesiastes 10:3 reveal the point made in the paragraph

above?

___________________________________________________________________

Verse 3 fits perfectly with verse 2. The fool’s “wisdom,” which is on

his left side, eventually exposes him to others as a fool. In other words,

sooner or later the corruption of your heart will become clear to oth-

ers because you will, sooner or later, follow the inclinations of your

heart. How important, then, to get control of our hearts! If we have

them under control, the rest of our body will follow.

Suppose you are struggling with wrong thoughts. What does

Deuteronomy 30:6 say, and what hope does it offer? How does

Philippians 4:6-8 offer us pr

actical ad

vice on ho

w to have that

promise fulfilled?

TUESDAY

March 13

More Evil

Solomon here continues with more platitudes and sayings. Verses 4-

7, though presenting some difficulty, seem to be talking about the

question touched on earlier in the book, that of injustice and unfair-

ness in this life.

What

are some of the injustice and unfairness that he talks about in

these verses? What are some other examples that you can think of?

___________________________________________________________________

“In the time of Solomon only the privileged rode upon horses or

mules (2 Sam. 18:9; 1 Kings 1:38; 2 Chron. 25:28; Esther 6:8; Jer.

17:25); men of lower degree used asses for this purpose. In early

Israelite history even kings and princes rode on asses or mules (Judges

5:10; 10:4; cf. 1 Kings 1:33).”—The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3,

p. 1098.

Though most of us might not have a problem with a few rich sitting

in “a low place,” the point is that things aren’t always as expected:

Folly wins great dignity and wealth a low spot. Or, in other contexts,

faithful people suffer, evil prospers, and so forth. Maybe this theme is

repeated in Ecclesiastes because the problem is so universal.

Whatever the reason, we can’t allow these things to work against our

faith and trust in God. This is just all part of what it means to live in

a fallen world.

What role do we have in working to alleviate the injustices and

inequities that we see? Is it just enough to say, “Well, that’s what

it means to live in a fallen world,” or are we to work for justice,

equity, and fairness? And, if so, how are we to do it? In what

ways would our activism be different from the world’s?

See Isa.

58:6, 7; Matt. 26:52; John 18:36; 2 Cor. 10:4; Rev. 13:10.

__________________________________________________________________

WEDNESDAY

March 14

The Snake Charmer

Ecclesiastes

10:8-11 is a sequence of short proverbs dealing

with various aspects of life. What points can you make from them?

___________________________________________________________________

These are difficult texts; many commentators see different things in

them. Following the lead of

The SDA Bible Commentary, we can dis-

cern the following ideas here.

Verse 8 seems to be talking about what happens when we are vin-

dictive, when we plan evil against someone. The pit that we dug for

someone else we end up falling into (Pss. 7:15; 57:6; Prov. 26:27; see

also Esther 9:23, 25). The same idea is found in the part about the

“hedge” (wall); when you tear down someone else’s wall, you can get

bitten by a snake that lodges there.

Though the exact meaning of verse 9 is debated, Solomon simply

could be saying that even when you do good things, bad consequences

could arise from them. This could fit in with his general pessimism.

Verse 10 is pretty clear. If you are using a dull knife, your work will

be much harder. How much more profitable to sharpen it beforehand.

In the same way, wisdom, i.e., thoughtful preparation before you

undertake anything, would be to your advantage. “The Christian

should seek and make use of the finest tools of spiritual craftsmanship

for the task of character construction. Effort alone is insufficient;

there must be knowledge as well as zeal (see Rom. 10:2).”—

The SDA

Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1098.

Verse 11 says, basically, that if the snake bites the charmer before

it’s charmed, then there’s no sense in him trying to charm it. The

meaning, perhaps, is best seen in the last part of the verse, about the

uselessness of a babbler. Charming a snake after it bites you (such as

a viper, whose bite is deadly) is as meaningless and useless as some-

one who babbles.

Go back over the day’s lesson. Which of these points makes the

most sense or speaks the clearest to you? What lessons can you

learn from it that y

ou should appl

y to yourself? Are you vindic-

tive? Do you babble too much? How much time do you spend

preparing y

our

self spirituall

y f

or whatever trials the day

brings?

THURSDAY

March 15

The Fool’s Lips

The rest of Ecclesiastes 10 (vss. 10-20) touches on various themes, but

for today we’ll focus on verses 12-14 and 20, in which the emphasis is

on the use of our words. How careful we must be with what we say!

Compare

the lips of the wise and a fool, as depicted in verse 12.

What point is being made? See Ps. 45:2, Prov. 22:11, Luke 4:22.

___________________________________________________________________

The word translated “gracious” in the first part of the verse is the

same word for grace (“Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord”

[Gen. 6:8]); grace is unmerited favor; that is, we don’t get the pun-

ishment we deserve. That’s the essence of salvation: We are not get-

ting the punishment we deserve (Jesus took it upon Himself instead).

In contrast, the words of the fool cause him to be swallowed, a word

used in various instances to depict sinners being punished

(Exod.

15:12, Num. 16:32, Jer. 51:34, Lam. 2:5).

Read

Ecclesiastes 10:13. How does this verse amplify what was said

in the previous one?

___________________________________________________________________

How often we dismiss someone as “all talk, no action.” Many times,

however, talk leads to action, because talk reflects what’s in the heart.

It would be bad enough if the fool did nothing but talk; sadly, that’s

not always the case. No wonder we are admonished all through the

Bible to watch our words.

Look

at verse 20. What’s the wisdom there?

___________________________________________________________________

The bottom line: A wise person will be careful with how he or she

chooses his or her words; a fool, on the other hand, will speak words

that will, one way or another, bring unnecessary pain and sorrow.

Think about a time when unnecessary words you spoke caused

you trouble. What lessons did you learn? What advice could you

give to someone who hasn’t yet learned to control the tongue?

FRIDAY

March 16

Further Study:

Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 323; Christ’s

Object Lessons, p. 337; Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 302.

“It is a law of nature that our thoughts and feelings are encouraged

and strengthened as we give them utterance. While words express

thoughts, it is also true that thoughts follow words. If we would give

more expression to our faith, rejoice more in the blessings that we

know we have—the great mercy and love of God—we should have

more faith and greater joy. No tongue can express, no finite mind can

conceive, the blessing that results from appreciating the goodness and

love of God. Even on earth we may have joy as a wellspring, never

failing, because fed by the streams that flow from the throne of

God.”—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, pp. 251–253.

“The words we utter today will go on echoing when time shall be no

more. The deeds done today are transferred to the books of heaven,

just as the features are transferred by the artist onto the polished plate.

They will determine our destiny for eternity, for bliss or eternal loss

and agonizing remorse.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers,

pp. 429, 430.

Discussion Questions:

● Think about the power of words—the good they can do or the

evil they can do. As a class, talk about whatever practical things

we can do to help each other understand how important it is that

we carefully guard our words. For instance, who can give per-

sonal examples of lessons they have learned regarding the power

of words? As a class, try to come up with a list of practical sug-

gestions, simple and basic principles that could guide us in how

we use our words.

● Because our thoughts are so important, what can you do as a

class to help the young people in your church make the right

choices regarding the things they read or watch? Why is it so

important that we be careful about what we put into our minds?

● As a class, talk about the issue of anyone who has violated a

sacred trust. How have we as a church dealt with such people?

What principles should guide us in these cases? How do we show

mercy and grace toward those who fall while, at the same time,

protecting the flock from those who have violated the trust put in

them?

tor

INSIDE

Bright Light of God

by MATSEPO LAURA LEBONA

I was sickly as a child living in Lesotho, a tiny country in southern

Africa. When I began having strange dreams, the village witch doctors

told my parents that a strong spirit lived in me. Although my family mem-

bers were Christians, they feared that I would die if I did not follow the

spirit. So, I went to study with a witch doctor. But what I learned from the

witch doctor was contrary to everything I had learned about God. I

remembered that the Ten Commandments teach us to honor God only. I

could not bring myself to kneel and pray to insects and snakes.

Nevertheless, I stayed and learned to “prophesy” people’s future.

I married a good man, but still I had no peace. God kept a glimmer of

truth alive in my heart. When at night the spirit tried to choke me, I called

out to Jesus. I prayed that if it was God’s will, He would free me from the

spirits. God answered my prayer, and the spirit left me. But my husband

began suffering the same symptoms I had suffered.

My in-laws gave me no peace, so my husband and I left their home and

moved to South Africa. There I met some Adventists who shared their

knowledge of God and helped us understand what the Bible says about

spirits. Things became clearer for us. I began attending the Adventist

church and answered God’s call to “come unto Me.”

I read

Steps to Christ to my husband and tried to help him understand

God’s will. Often during this time Satan tried to overpower me and draw

me back into the life we had left. But I would cry out, “Save me, Lord

Jesus.” And Jesus saved me. My husband and I were baptized.

We returned to Lesotho and shared what we had learned with our fami-

lies and neighbors. It is difficult, because no Adventist believers live in our

community. People remember that I once prophesied and had a spirit in

me. “How can you be a Christian when you

were once possessed by a spirit?” they asked.

To make matters more difficult, there are no

Adventists in our village, and people think we

have joined a cult. Please pray for us, for there

is much work to do here in this battlefield.

There are many held by Satan who must come

to Christ.

MATSEPO LAURA LEBONA shares her faith in her home-

land of Lesotho

Produced by the General Conf

erence Office of Ad

ventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

L ESSON

*March 17-23

The Way of the Wind

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week’

s Study:

Ecclesiastes 11.

Memor

y Text:

“As you do not know what is the way of the wind,

or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you

do not know the works of God who makes all things”

(Ecclesiastes

11:5, NKJV).

he ancient Greeks believed in fate; your destiny was decided

beforehand by the gods, and that was it. This ideal was

expressed in Homer’s Iliad, when the great Trojan warrior

Hector says to his wife (who had been begging him not to go back to

battle, fearing that he would surely die), “No man will hurl me down

to Death, against my fate. And fate? No man alive has escaped it, nei-

ther brave man nor coward.”—

Iliad, trans. Robert Fagles (New York:

Penguin Books, 1990), p. 212.

That’s not, however, the biblical position. We are not objects of cold

fate; we have no predetermined destiny, except one: eternal life with

Jesus Christ

(Eph. 1:1-11). God’s plan was for all of us to find salva-

tion in Jesus: That’s why Jesus’ death was for the whole world, with no

one left out.

That we all aren’t saved shows that our fate isn’t sealed beforehand.

Our future is open. We have choices to make, choices that will deter-

mine our destin

y. This week we look at more of Solomon’s wisdom

regarding the choices left us as free beings who are sometimes swept

up in events beyond our control. Maybe the events aren’t in our hands,

but our responses often are.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 24.

SUNDAY

March 18

Casting Your Bread

Ecclesiastes 11:1 has been speculated upon for many long centuries

now. What does the phrase “Cast your bread upon the waters” mean?

Various interpretations have been offered; the traditional one says that

this is dealing with the question of charity. “He that hath a bountiful

eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor” (Prov.

22:9). “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the

poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that

thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”

(Isa. 58:7). This makes a great deal of sense, especially considering

the importance the Old Testament puts on helping the poor and the

needy; it would seem strange, then, that a whole book dealing with

practical wisdom would not say something about such an important

teaching.

Read

Deuteronomy 15:7-11. What’s the message in those texts and

how do they seem to be saying, in another way, the message of

Ecclesiastes 11:1?

___________________________________________________________________

A lot of speculation has gone into Ecclesiastes 11:2, as well. What

are the meanings of the two numbers there? If we keep it in the immedi-

ate context of the verse before it, and assume that it is talking about

charity, the emphasis seems to be on being generous in what we give.

There is so much need and want out there; we all should do our share,

to whatever degree we can, for who knows what evil shall come. That

is, who knows what kind of trouble and suffering will arise; therefore,

we should be ready to help when the opportunity arises.

Whatever the exact meaning of these phrases, the principle certainly

is a Christian principle: that of giving of ourselves in order to help oth-

ers who might be suffering from the evil that is upon the earth.

According to the Bible, we are admonished to help others, especially

those who are in need.

What’s your attitude toward those who are needier than you?

How willing ar

e y

ou to shar

e whatever you have, no matter how

meager, with those less fortunate?

MONDAY

March 19

Clouds, Rain—and Fate

There are about as many different interpretations of Ecclesiastes

11:3, 4 as there are interpreters. If we read it just for what it says,

Solomon is talking about the forces of nature: If a cloud gets full of

rain, it pours out on the earth; if a tree falls, then where it falls is where

it rests. What’s the point?

What

is found in verse 4 that could help us better understand what

is going on in verse 3?

___________________________________________________________________

Verse 3 is talking about rain; sometimes, too, in a rainstorm there is

wind, and sometimes that wind knocks over trees. All these are forces

much greater and stronger than human beings are. If we today are

often at the mercy of nature, how much more so back then? Solomon’s

point, then, could be about how we deal with events and things that,

like nature, are beyond our control. How do we respond? Do we just

stand there and watch, allowing ourselves to be dominated by them;

or do we, trusting in God and in His love for us, seek to be faithful to

our tasks and obligations despite things that we cannot control?

What

are some things that we as human beings all face that are, indeed,

totally beyond our control?

___________________________________________________________________

Though there are forces greater than us, nothing in this world is

greater than God, who upholds all things by His power

(Heb. 1:3).

None of the forces you mentioned in your answer above were beyond

the power of God. Thus, regardless of events that overtake us, it’s so

important to remember that over and beyond them all is God, our

Creator, who loves and who cares about us. We are not left to blind

chance or to cold fate. Storms may come, the wind may blow, and

there seems to be little, if anything, we can do about these events.

What we can do, however, is remain faithful to God amid whatever

happens.

Read Matthew 6:25-34. What is Jesus saying here that fits in

with the lesson f

or toda

y? Mor

e important, what’s He saying

here that could give you hope to trust in God’s love and care for

you, regardless of your situation?

TUESDAY

March 20

The Way of the Wind

“As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the

bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not

know the works of God who makes all things” (Eccles. 11:5,

NKJV).

Considering the interpretation we gave to Ecclesiastes 11:3, 4, this

next verse fits right in. As human beings, we just don’t know so many

things. Everything—from the way of the wind (that word for “wind”

is also the same word for “Spirit,” which could add a whole new

dimension to the meaning of the text) to some basic aspects of the

physical world, including our own development in the womb—is

filled with awe and mystery. Even today, with all we know about the

growth of a fetus, there is still so much that is beyond our knowledge.

Here, then, is a point worth remembering: If so much about God’s

work in the physical world is far beyond our understanding, how much

more so His work of salvation and redemption? We can see in nature

the depths of God’s creative power and genius; the simplest things are

filled with mysteries that science cannot explain. Any wonder, then,

that there would be other aspects of God’s work of salvation that are

far beyond our understanding, as well?

(See Rom. 11:33-36.)

Read

Isaiah 55:6-13. What is the message there? What hope is found

in there for us? How does it relate to what we’ve read in

Ecclesiastes 11:5?

___________________________________________________________________

And though God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not

our thoughts, we can know at least that His thoughts to us are

“thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer.

29:11). And that expected end is eternal life in a new heaven and a

new earth, a life without suffering, Satan, loss, and death. That’s the

expected end, the promised end, the end that Jesus had in mind for

each of us when He died on the cross.

Make a list of the ways in which you have seen that God’s

thoughts tow

d y

ou ar

, indeed, thoughts of peace and not of

evil. Take time to praise and thank Him for what He has done

for you.

100

WEDNESDAY

March 21

Light and Darkness

All through the Bible we see the image of light and darkness con-

trasted with each other, the idea of light being good and darkness

being bad.

Look

up the following texts. What do we learn from them about the

contrast between light and darkness? Isa. 5:20, Luke 11:34, Acts

26:18, Rom. 13:12, Eph. 5:8, 1 Thess. 5:5, 1 Pet. 2:9, 1 John 1:5.

___________________________________________________________________

Darkness isn’t something in and of itself as much as it is the absence

of something, in this case light. If you stood in a totally dark room and

were asked “What do you see?” you would reply “Nothing,” or you

would say “I see total darkness.” They are the same thing.

With

these thoughts in mind, read Ecclesiastes 11:7, 8.What’s the mes-

sage Solomon is giving here?

___________________________________________________________________

God is the Giver of light, of truth, of goodness, of joy, and hope.

Darkness is the absence of these things, and in darkness come lies,

evil, suffering, and despair. Solomon is saying that whatever ways

God has blessed your life, there will always be days of darkness, days

of pain, of suffering and despair. No one escapes them. Perhaps his

message simply is, Don’t get complacent. Things might be going well

today, but who knows what tomorrow will bring? Not that we should

worry but only that we should not take any of the blessings we get

from God for granted. We should be praising God and thanking God

from a grateful heart for all the good things we have, for who knows

what evil will arise?

In your own experience, what has made the difference between

your days of light and days of darkness? What caused the days

of darkness?

What pr

actical things can y

ou do in order to help

yourself live better in the light that comes from God?

101

THURSDAY

March 22

Days of Thy Youth

Read

Ecclesiastes 11:9, 10. What is Solomon saying here? What kind

of tension, or contrast, do you see in these verses?

___________________________________________________________________

Is God taking away with one hand what He offers to us with

another? Have a good time, but just remember that God’s going to

judge you for it in the end. Is that what this text is saying? An ancient

Rabbi, commenting on this verse, said it’s like a child being told “You

might as well sin now, because you are going to be punished for every-

thing anyhow.”

Of course, as the rabbi knew, that’s not the point of the text. The

point, instead, seems to be that life is a gift from God, and because it

is from God, it is something good. We were created to enjoy our lives,

to enjoy our bodies, to enjoy the things that God made. In youth espe-

cially, when we have energy, power, ambition, and hope, we are to

enjoy ourselves.

But

enjoyment is a relative word. We can “enjoy” ourselves through

“the pleasures of sin for a season”(Heb. 11:25), or we can enjoy our-

selves in the Lord; that is, we can enjoy the gifts that God has given

us in the way that He intends for us to enjoy them. So often young

people, so full of energy and passion, easily can be led astray to use

these gifts from God in a way that will bring ruin on them now

(see

Proverbs 7), not to mention that one day they will have to answer to

God in judgment for their actions.

How

does Ecclesiastes 11:10 help us keep what he’s saying in verse 9

in perspective?

___________________________________________________________________

Again, if we keep in mind all of Scripture, what Solomon is say-

ing is, enjoy the gifts that God has given you, but enjoy them as

blessings, not as sin and evil, and just remember to keep it all in

perspective, because one day your childhood and youth, even

your life itself, will be over, and then you will have to answer for

all that you have done.

102

FRIDAY

March 23

Further Study:

Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1,

p. 272; vol. 6, pp. 271, 272; Welfare Ministry, pp. 178–187.

“Remember that you will never reach a higher standard than you

yourself set. Then set your mark high, and step by step, even though it

be by painful effort, by self-denial and sacrifice, ascend the whole

length of the ladder of progress. Let nothing hinder you. Fate has not

woven its meshes about any human being so firmly that he need

remain helpless and in uncertainty. Opposing circumstances should

create a firm determination to overcome them. The breaking down of

one barrier will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press

with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be

your helpers, not your hindrances.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object

Lessons, pp. 331, 332.

“Some men have no firmness of character. They are like a ball of

putty and can be pressed into any conceivable shape. They are of no

definite form and consistency, and are of no practical use in the world.

This weakness, indecision, and inefficiency must be overcome. There

is an indomitableness about true Christian character which cannot be

molded or subdued by adverse circumstances. Men must have moral

backbone, an integrity which cannot be flattered, bribed, or terri-

fied.”—Ellen G. White,

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 297.

Discussion Questions:

● What is your church doing to help those who are in dire need?

What more can you do to help?

● As a class, talk about some events in your own community, or

even nation, that are out of your control, and yet that affect all of

you. How have you each responded to these events? How has the

church responded? What can you do to help others learn to cope

better with things that they can’t control?

● George Bernard Shaw once quipped, “Youth is wasted on the

young.” What can you do as a class to help your young people, so

full of energy, vigor, and passion, to avoid making decisions that

will negatively impact them for the rest of their lives? What prac-

tical things can you do to help steer them in the right direction?

tor

INSIDE

103

The Promise-Keeping God

by Jeane Zachary

Nina and her husband operate a small business in India. One day some

people came by giving away pamphlets. Nina requested one and glanced at

it. She realized that the pamphlet was a religious tract.

“I have many questions about Jesus,” Nina told the woman who gave her

the tract. The woman invited Nina to ask her questions, then she answered

them. “I would like to learn more about Jesus,” Nina said. “I want to know

why He is called God.”

The visitor invited Nina to attend an evening Bible study the next night.

Nina went to the meeting and was relieved when her husband did not ask her

where she had gone. But the next Bible study ran longer, and Nina was late

getting home. Her husband met her at the door, angry that she had not told

him where she was going. She continued attending the Bible studies, though

her husband warned her never to take their children to Christian meetings.

The seventh Bible study dealt with returning tithe to the Lord. Nina lis-

tened carefully. She and her husband were having some financial problems,

and two friends had failed to return money they had borrowed several years

before.

The concept of testing the Lord reminded Nina of the overdue loans. That

night she prayed, “Lord, You know that my family urgently needs money. If

our friends return the money that they borrowed, I will return the tithe to

You.” Nina prayed this prayer on Thursday evening. On Friday she received

five thousand rupees (about US$115); one loan was paid in full. The next

day Nina placed five hundred rupees in the offering plate. During the next

week the other loan was paid in full, and the following Sabbath she placed

two hundred rupees in the offering.

“Jesus Christ is a good God,” Nina says. “He keeps His promises. As long

as I live, I will follow Jesus and return a faithful tithe to the Lord.” Nina has

been baptized and continues to faithfully return a tithe of her business

income. Since she first began returning tithe, she reports that her business

has doubled.

Nina’s husband is beginning to understand what Nina has discovered. He

has told her, “There is power in your God.” Nina prays that her husband will

see more of the power of Jesus and give his heart to the Lord as she has.

Our tithes support church workers around the world; our Mission offer-

ings support the many ministries that lead people such as Nina to the feet of

Jesus.

JEANE ZACHARY lives and writes in Southern Calif

ornia.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

104

L ESSON

*March 24-30

The Conclusion of the

Matter

SABBA

AFTERNOON

Read for This W

eek’

s Study:

Ecclesiastes 12.

Memory Text:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty

of man”

(Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Russian writer, Andrei Bitov, explains a seminal moment in his

life: “In my twenty-seventh year, while riding the metro in

Leningrad, I was overcome with a despair so great that life

seemed to stop at once, preempting the future entirely, let alone any

meaning. Suddenly, all by itself, a phrase appeared: Without God life

makes no sense. Repeating it in astonishment, I rode the phrase up

like a moving staircase, got out of the metro and into God’s light and

carried on living.”—Quoted in Ravi Zacharias,

Can Man Live Without

God? (Nashville, Tenn.: Word Publishing, 1994), p. 59.

In its own way, Ecclesiastes could have been summed up with the

phrase “Without God life makes no sense.” But that can be read two

ways, not just that if no God exists life makes no sense but that if we

live without God, without acknowledging Him or His commands, life

makes no sense. And that’s because, among other reasons, death is

always there, waiting to swallow us up into oblivion. Without the

answer to death, there’s no answer to life, and that answer is found

only in Jesus, who beat death and with that victory offers us what we

can’t get anywhere else. “ ‘Without Me,’ ” Jesus said, “ ‘you can do

nothing’ ”

(John 15:5, NKJV), and that includes finding any good rea-

son for our existence.

This week we take our final look at Ecclesiastes, one of Scripture’s

more creative ways of getting that important point across to us, who

can so easily forget it.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 31.

105

SUNDAY

March 25

Remember Your Creator

Solomon here picks up somewhat where he left off in the previous

section. He’s still giving advice to young people, still warning them

about the “evil days.” Though last week we looked at them as being

days of any kind of trouble, the emphasis here seems to be on old age.

Evil days seem to be (at least in his thinking here) old age.

What

is Solomon saying here in 12:1 that reflects what he said in the

last few verses of Ecclesiastes 11? What’s his basic message?

___________________________________________________________________

Solomon’s use of the word for “Creator” here comes from the same

Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:1 for “created.” The Hebrew verb

bara is almost always found in the context of divine activity (Isa.

65:17, Amos 4:13, Mal. 2:10); that is, bara is never used to describe

humanity’s activities. Solomon, therefore, is expressing the biblical

concept that ties in God as our Creator. He is our God because He is

our Creator.

Also interesting is that the Hebrew word for “Creator” is in the plu-

ral, just as the word for God in Genesis 1:1 appears in the plural.

Though all sorts of explanations have existed through the centuries for

this plural form, some Christians have seen it as evidence of the plu-

ral nature of the Godhead

(Gen. 1:26, 3:22, 11:7).

Solomon, having squandered the best years of his life, his youth, is

now seeking to warn others from following in his footsteps. Though

it’s important for everyone, at any age, to accept the Lord, the earlier

the better, for any number of reasons. That’s clearly his message now:

Don’t turn away from God in your youth.

Why would it be better for someone while young to accept the

Lord as opposed to waiting until later? What are the advantages

of doing it while being young? Take your list to class on Sabbath

and compare it with what others say. What can you learn from

each other?

See also Deut. 10:13; Luke 13:4, 5; Phil. 3:13, 14.

_____________________________________________________

106

MONDAY

March 26

When the Grinders Cease

Ecclesiastes 12:2-7 is a beautiful and poetic description of the aging

process. Many commentators agree that the phrase “before the sun

and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds

return after the rain”

(vs. 2, NIV) deals with the loss of mental facul-

ties in old age. The “keepers of the house” could be the arms, which

were once strong and healthy but now tremble and shake.

Read

through Ecclesiastes 12:1-7. Work through the images the best

you can. But as you read, also ask yourself this question: Why is

Solomon here talking about old age? What’s the message for us?

___________________________________________________________________

Solomon, especially as he himself reaches old age, is pointing us to

our mortality. This is a theme he touched on over and over in the book.

And no wonder. Regardless of who we are, how we live, or even how

long we live, sooner or later we all face death. It’s an unavoidable real-

ity of life.

Some Christian youth wear a T-shirt with the saying “It’s not that life

is so short but that death is so long! John 3:16.” Solomon, now in his

old age, with death before him, is seeking to remind us all, especially

the young, that our day will come, as well. Of course, if you are fortu-

nate, you will live long, only to face the “evil days” of old age, and then

you will die. The other option is that you will simply die young.

In short, Ecclesiastes, among other things, reminds us again of our

mortality, reminds us of the shortness of life, that it is hebel, a vapor

or a breath. Thus, we all need to keep the big picture in mind, the pic-

ture of eternity, the picture of what God has offered us through Jesus

Christ—eternal life.

Read through Revelation 21 and 22, a description of the future

world that God has made available to all of us through Jesus’

death. What elements stand out the most in your mind? What

touches you the most?

ry to imagine w

hat it will be like. And

remember that this will be for eternity. This is the hope God

offers us through Christ. All this considered, what else matters?

How seriousl

y ar

e you taking the promises offered you through

Jesus?

107

TUESDAY

March 27

The Making of Many Books

In Ecclesiastes 12:9-12 Solomon starts talking about wisdom,

knowledge, and his attempts to teach it to others. Whether he was

referring to all his writings or just that in this book, the text doesn’t

say. His point, though, was that he truly attempted not only to learn

truth but to teach it to others.

Look at verse 10 in particular. He wanted words that were “pleas-

ing” (RSV). Does that mean he simply wanted to tickle people’s ears

with what they wanted to hear? That hardly makes sense, considering

the kind of words that he wrote, especially in Ecclesiastes. The key,

perhaps, is in the rest of the verse. He sought pleasing words but also

“words of truth” written “uprightly” (RSV). The words were not so

pleasing that they ceased to be true. Ultimately, words of truth are

pleasing, in the sense that truth itself—Jesus (John 14:6), who died

for our sins—is pleasing, at least to those who know and accept Him.

Read

verse 11. What point is he making there?

The “goad” mentioned here was probably a pointed stick used to

prod cattle. Along with the other image of “nails,” his point seems to

be that the words of the wise should have two effects: prodding peo-

ple to action and staying in the memory. According to many com-

mentators, the “one shepherd” here is a reference to God Himself (Ps.

23:1, Jer. 31:10, John 10:11-14); that is, in the end, the words of the

wise come from God. In short, Solomon here is talking about divine

inspiration. He, like other wise men and the prophets, “spake as they

were moved by the Holy Ghost”

(2 Pet. 1:21).

What’s

the warning in verse 12?

How interesting that right after talking about divine inspiration

Solomon gives this warning about books, which is really a warning

about the wrong kind of learning. How many people study themselves

right into eternal ruin? Today, especially, when there is so much infor-

mation out there, how crucial that we be careful about the kind of

learning we get.

What kind of “knowledge” is out there that, if not tested and

judged by Scripture with the teaching of the “One shepherd,”

could lead you astray? Why must you be careful in the kind of

knowledge you acquire?

108

WEDNESDAY

March 28

Faith, Law, and Judgment

After

going on for so long about all these matters of life, death, and

God, Solomon ends this book with two verses, Ecclesiastes 12:13,

14. In your own words, summarize the essence of his conclusion.

___________________________________________________________________

Solomon’s final message in Ecclesiastes, the sum of all that he

wrote before, sounds somewhat like what’s at the heart of the three

angels’ messages of Revelation 14.

Read

Revelation 14:6-12. What elements can you find in there that

are similar to Solomon’s conclusion to Ecclesiastes?

___________________________________________________________________

Solomon ends by telling us to keep the commandments of God;

that’s part of the third angel’s message (Rev. 14:12). Solomon talks

about judgment; the first angel’s message also talks about judgment

(vs. 7). Finally, Solomon’s call to “Fear God” is a Bible way of

expressing what it means to have faith in God, to worship and obey

Him, all part of the three angels’ messages

(vss. 7-12). The fear of God

and the worship of God are linked. “O worship the Lord in the beauty

of holiness: fear before him, all the earth” (Ps. 96:9). “But as for me,

I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy

fear will I worship toward thy holy temple” (Ps. 5:7). No wonder the

first angel’s message, which tells us to worship God, tells us (as did

Solomon) to “fear God,” as well.

Thus the three basic elements in Solomon’s conclusion are crucial

elements in what we understand as present truth. Does this mean,

then, that Solomon was thinking specifically of our time when

inspired to write this? Of course not. Instead, this brings home a cru-

cial point: From the beginning, God’s message of faith in His atone-

ment for us, reflected in a life of obedience to His commandments, all

against the backdrop of a judgment, is nothing new. As Adventists we

didn’t invent it. We’ve just been given the call to preach it to the world.

If you were to explain to someone what it means to fear God and

keep His commandments, what would you say?

109

THURSDAY

March 29

The Conclusion of the Matter

We’ve come to the end, the conclusion of the conclusion of our

study in Ecclesiastes. What is the meaning of this strange book, which

is so different from almost every other book of the Bible? What’s the

message God has for us here? What are we to make of this?

back over the book of Ecclesiastes. Mull over it, pray over it, and

then write out what you would deem the key point of this book.

What was God’s message to you from Ecclesiastes? What have you

taken away that helps you better in your walk with the Lord? Be

prepared to read your answer in class on Sabbath.

__________________________________________________________________

It will be interesting to see the various responses. One point,

though, does seem clear: God, with this book, warns us against getting

too caught up in the ways of the world. Sure, we have been given bod-

ies, we have been given physical pleasures; these are all gifts from

God, and they all have their role. But they are not the end; in and of

themselves, they are all

hebel. As you get older, your ability to enjoy

them diminishes, and the moment you die they are gone.

In other words, whatever else Ecclesiastes is saying to us, it is at

least saying, Think about who you are, why you are here, how you got

here, and, most important, where you are going when this short life,

this

hebel of existence, is gone. God has given us gifts, but the gifts

don’t last; nothing in this life does.

Ecclesiastes is 12 chapters saying to us what Jesus said in one verse:

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose

his own soul? or w

hat shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

(Matt. 16:26). Sadly, what people give for their own soul is, always,

hebel. How tragic, especially when our souls have already been

bought, bought through the precious blood of Jesus, whose death

offers all of us a one-w

y tick

et out of all the “madness and foll

y” that

we suffer here “under the sun.”

110

FRIDAY

March 30

Further Study:

Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 2,

p. 113; book 3, p. 405; Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 455.

“Human strength is weakness, human wisdom is folly. Our success

does not depend on our talents or learning, but on our living connec-

tion with God. The truth is shorn of its power when preached by men

who are seeking to display their own learning and ability. Such men

display also that they know very little of experimental religion, that

they are unsanctified in heart and life and are filled with vain conceit.

They do not learn of Jesus. They cannot present to others a Savior

with whom they themselves are not acquainted. Their own hearts are

not softened and subdued by a vivid sense of the great sacrifice which

Christ has made to save perishing man.”—Ellen G. White,

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 158, 159.

“You need not go to the ends of the earth for wisdom, for God is

near. It is not the capabilities you now possess or ever will have that

will give you success. It is that which the Lord can do for you. We

need to have far less confidence in what man can do and far more con-

fidence in what God can do for every believing soul. He longs to have

you reach after Him by faith. He longs to have you expect great things

from Him. He longs to give you understanding in temporal as well as

in spiritual matters. He can sharpen the intellect. He can give tact and

skill. Put your talents into the work, ask God for wisdom, and it will

be given you.”—Ellen G. White,

Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 146.

Discussion Questions:

● As a class, go over your answers in Thursday’s lesson and dis-

cuss your conclusions.

● Have people of different ages get up and talk about the aging

process. What do we learn about life, about God, about faith, as

we get older? What lessons can the older ones teach the young?

● What are the things in your society that make it so easy to get

caught up in the world? As a class, how can you help each other

avoid these pitfalls?

● As a church, how well do we help our members discern

between what’s eternal and what’s hebel? That is, might we even

subtly be promoting things—i.e., wealth, power, prestige, knowl-

edge—in ways that can blur the line between what’s gold and

what’s dross? Discuss.

tor

INSIDE

111

Search for Father

by IGOR KORAL

I grew up in a non-Christian family in Ukraine. My father was in prison

during most of my childhood. When other children talked about their

fathers, I felt left out, lonely. I did not remember my father. My mom did

her best to be mother and father to me, but the incompleteness of our fam-

ily was a sharp pain in my heart.

This yearning for a father pushed me to search for God. When I visited

my grandmother, she took me to church and taught me to pray. She told

me stories about God, my heavenly Father. There was that word again,

father. Could God be my Father? The thought seemed so dear yet so dis-

tant.

I prayed with Grandmother when I was little, and as I grew I began talk-

ing to God about everything. Slowly, God became my Father. My faith in

God—my Father—helped me stand firm when my teenage friends urged

me to drink and smoke. I could not dishonor my heavenly Father.

I often read a book of prayers and Bible readings that Grandmother had

given me. There I found references to the Sabbath. I did not understand

what Sabbath meant, but I determined to keep the Sabbath the best I knew

how. It brought me such peace and happiness during this time in my life.

Then when I was 15, my father was released from prison. He wanted to

spend time with me, get to know me. I felt honored. He introduced me to

his friends—criminals and ex convicts with fancy tattoos and big talk

about crimes and prison. I was drawn to these men, and before long I

wanted to be like them. This pleased my father, for he wanted me to fol-

low his footsteps. But before I could sink too deeply into trouble, my

father died in a swimming accident.

A few months later I saw a poster advertising Christian meetings. I had

lost my connection with God, and I wanted to reconnect. But something

held me back. My mind was in a turmoil. I attended the last few meetings.

The speaker talked about how much God loves us and wants us to be His

children. Then he invited us to follow Christ and be baptized. I knew I had

to obey. I stood and surrendered my life to Jesus once more.

Today I cannot imagine living without God. I want to be like Him, just

as a little boy wants to be like his earthly father. I want my Father to be

proud of me.

Your Mission offerings help pay for outreach such as the meetings that

brought me back to God. Thank you.

IGOR KORAL is a lay e

vang

elist and c

hur

h planter in Ukr

aine.

Produced by the General Conf

erence Office of Adventist Mission.

Web site:www.adventistmission.org

2007

112

Bible Study Guide for the Second Quarter

This quarter’s study, Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet: The Bible for

Today,

written by the Jonathan Oey Kuntaraf and Kathleen Kiem Hoa

Oey Kuntaraf, shows us the great lengths God has taken to reveal, not

only Himself to us but also His ultimate standard of truth for this fallen

world. Perhaps the greatest evidence for the Bible is the influence and

impact for good it has had, and continues to have, on the lives of those

who apply its teachings to their daily lives. For centuries, the Bible has

provided answers to the greatest needs of people all over the world. With

such claims made for the Bible, is there any wonder why its authenticity

and reliability have been challenged? This quarter attempts to answer

some of the Bible’s critics and show just how relevant it is for us today.

Lesson 1

—The

Voice from Heaven

The Week at a Glance:

SUNDAY: God’s Search for Humanity

(Gen. 3:8, Isa. 59:2, Matt.

23:37)

MONDAY: God and the Prophets (2 Sam. 12:1-7)

TUESDAY: The Revelation Through Jesus Christ (Matt. 11:27)

WEDNESDAY: God Speaks Today (2 Tim. 1:5)

THURSDAY: God Speaks Through the Bible (2 Pet. 1:20, 21)

Memory Text—

Hebrews 1:1, 2

Sabbath Gem:

Our true worth can be understood only through

the life and death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If our value

wasn’t infinite in the sight of God, such an infinite price would not

have been paid for our redemption. God still speaks to us today, but

we need to make sure we are listening.

Lesson 2

—“The Final Word”

The Week at a Glance:

SUNDAY: “The Word of the Lord” (2 Sam. 23:2; Ezek. 2:2; 11:5, 24;

Mic. 3:8)

MOND

: God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16)

TUESDAY: Christ’s View of the Scriptures (Matt. 4:4-10)

WEDNESDAY: Apostles and the Scriptures (James 2)

THURSDAY: Unity Amid Diversity (2 Pet. 3:16)

Memory Text—

2 Timothy 3:16, 17

Sabbath Gem:

As Christians, we believe that God is the final

authority and that He expresses His will through His Word, the Bible.

Thus considering who its author is, the Bible comes with God’s divine

authority built into its very pages

Lessons for the Visually Impaired

The regular Adult Sabbath School

Bible Study Guide

is a

ailable free each month in braille and on audiocassette to sight-

impaired and physically handicapped persons who cannot read normal ink print. This

includes individuals who, because of arthritis, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, accident, old

age, and so for

th, cannot hold or f

ocus on nor

mal ink-print publications. Contact

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vices

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